Living Cultures Grants Program

The Living Cultures Grants Program seeks to sustain and strengthen the folk and traditional arts in the state of California with grants of $5,000 to California-based nonprofits, as well as other organizations who work with fiscal sponsors.

Deadline: July 17, 2017

What We Fund — Pathways to nurture, sustain, and engage participation in traditional arts

Cultural continuity of traditional art forms practices

• Workshops and gatherings (for example, events that bring together artists, cultural specialists or community leaders to share skills & information, or to engage in discussion and problem solving)

• Conservation, creation, or acquisition of important traditional arts items

• Intergenerational classes or other educational programs within a community (after school youth programs, dance ensemble classes or practices, summer programs, etc.)

• Other kinds of mentorships with culture bearers, honoraria, travel costs within CA, etc. (intensive one-on-one artistic mentorships should apply to the Apprenticeship Program rather than the Living Cultures Grants Program)

• Endangered language conservation and revitalization projects when carried out within the context of traditional art forms

• Other types of activities and projects that lead to cultural continuity of traditional arts practices

Sustaining future traditional arts practices with needed purchases, services, or acquiring new skills

• Equipment and materials purchases (instruments, media equipment, costumes or regalia, etc.)

• Documentation of traditional arts, skills, ceremonies, beliefs, or performances

• An investment to result in future revenues (fee for services for marketing connsultation, website development, financial planning)

• Learning new skills by supporting mentorships with advisors or cultural specialists

• Other types of activities and projects that lead to long term sustainability of traditional arts practices

Engaging and strengthening our own communities as well as engaging with others

• Public presentations, such as community-based concerts, festivals, and exhibitions that foster active participation

• Workshops and gatherings (for example, events that bring together artists, cultural specialists or community cultural leaders to share skills & information, or to engage in discussion and problem solving)

• Other types of activities and projects that lead to active participation in traditional arts practices within and between cultural communities