Impact Projects

Purpose

The purpose is to support collaborative projects that center artists and artistic practice in responding to issues experienced by historically and systemically under-resourced communities, including but not limited to, social, political, and economic inequalities. This program prioritizes California-based artists and forms of arts and cultural expression that are unique to, and/or historically rooted in, the specific communities to be served.

Description

Impact Projects supports arts organizations for collaborations between California-based artist(s) and community members to address a community-defined need. Projects must use artistic practices to impact social issues affecting their communities, including but not limited to systemic marginalization, incarceration/justice systems, arts learning, poverty/economic disparity, health disparities, accessibility for people with disabilities, housing insecurity, violence, food insecurity, cultural/social justice, intergenerational/multigenerational learning, veterans’ issues, immigrant/refugee/asylum seeker/migrant issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, environmental sustainability, and climate change/natural disasters/climate refugee issues. Previous applicants to Reentry Through the Arts and Veterans in the Arts are encouraged to apply through this program. Applicants focused on arts education for youth should apply for the Arts & Youth program. Program Goals Heal, stabilize, uplift, and transform communities Fund artistic projects that foster creative social change in the areas of equity and access Provide crucial opportunities for sustaining strong, healthy, vibrant, safe, and resilient communities in a region Strengthen community collaboration Support artistic practice and the creative expression of artists Project Requirements Applicant must develop and complete a project addressing the program goals within the Grant Activity Period. Projects must be collaboratively developed between California-based artist(s) and community members to address a community-defined need. Projects must use artistic practices to positively impact social issues affecting a community. Lead artist(s) must be California-based. Project planning, implementation, and measures of success/evaluation (if applicable) must include and represent the communities to be served. All aspects of the project must be free to community participants/audiences or affordable/accessible. Rates of pay for artists and arts workers supported by this grant must be appropriate to experience and comparable to fees for other local skilled workers. Individuals to be paid by this grant may not be full-time students in a degree program if they are receiving compensation/credit for this project. All CAC-funded programs, services, information, and facilities where funded activities take place, including online spaces, must be accessible for individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, have difficulty speaking, have a physical disability, visual disability, developmental disability, learning disability, mental illness, or chronic illness.