Inspired by the Federal Government’s WPA response that put artists to work following the Great Depression a century ago, the California Arts Council created the California Creative Corps (CCC) in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. While collectively we may have moved on from the shock of 2020, the importance of public health, climate health, civic engagement and participation is evergreen. The CCC grant positions artists and culture bearers as uniquely situated to engage meaningfully and boldly with four program goals in public spaces and community life; to speak powerfully to intersectional public interest goals across traditional lines of divide.
Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is a partner agency in the California Creative Corps grant for the Upstate Region of Northern California. This page will be updated often, as needed, with relevant information and links. FAQ available at the bottom of this page!
We encourage all applicants to first read our grant guidelines, available in both English and Spanish, before beginning an application through our ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL. Applications are are available in both English and Spanish. All applicants must apply online,
As a reference only, to help you with your application process, we’ve created downloadable printable PDF versions of our grant guidelines as well as read-only PDFs of each grant application. You can find these here. Again, we encourage online applications only.
Upstate California Creative Corps is providing an informational webinar, ongoing weekly office hours, and grant writing workshops during the application period. You can find dates and registration links to all these in our Grant Timeline on our home page. We hope, too, that you will find our FAQ and Glossary of Terms and Definitions helpful.
Please note: READ ALL INFORMATION BEFORE APPLYING AND BE SURE YOU ARE APPLYING TO THE CORRECT CATEGORY. Applying to the wrong one category may affect your grant application.
PROGRAM GOALS
Soon, artists throughout the state of California will have the opportunity to apply for California Creative Corps grant funding to address one or more of these four program goals in their work:
Public health – the health of the population as a whole. This program goal includes public health awareness messages to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Climate mitigation & conservation – involves reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, either by reducing sources of these gases (for example, the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, or transport) or enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store these gases (such as the oceans, forests, and soil). This program goal includes public awareness around water and energy conservation, as well as emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery.
Civic engagement – Civic engagement refers to the ways in which citizens participate in the life of a community in order to improve conditions for others or to help shape the community’s future. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes and encouraging election participation.
Social justice & community engagement – Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. This program goal aims to open the doors of access and opportunity for everyone, particularly those in greatest need.
APPLICATION PATHWAYS
Artists in the Upstate Region of California (a nineteen-county region that includes Yuba & Sutter Counties) are expected to be able to select from a range of possible grant application pathways:
Individual Artists and Culture Bearers working solo or in small groups, having no affiliation with an agency or formal organization.Individual artist and culture bearer applicants may apply for $5,000-$30,000 with group applicants being eligible for $5,000-$60,000. (20% of a grant may be used for program expenses, such as art supplies, rentals, etc.)
Community Residencies ensuring collaborative efforts in building awareness and engagement processes. Arts organizations, social service organizations and units of government, including Tribal authorities, who wish to employ artists and culture bearers are invited to apply. Multiple agencies collaborating is encouraged.
Applicants may apply for $15,000-$150,000. 20% of the grant award may be used for administrative costs and costs associated with program design and implementation. 80% of funds must be used to hire individual artist(s) and/or culture bearer(s).
Regional or Multi-County Coalitions that create systems and processes with a high sustainability quotient. Deep engagement with government agencies or departments should be an essential feature of programs at this level. Matching funds are encouraged but not required.Applicants may apply for up to $250,000. 20% of the grant award may be used for administrative costs and costs associated with program design and implementation. 80% of funds must be used to hire individual artist(s) and/or culture bearer(s).
HEALTHY PLACES INDEX
The California Healthy Places Index offers a springboard from which to consider local and regional proposals for funding through this grant. In areas with the most adverse health outcomes, how can artists help to move the needle on the issues of greatest concern to our communities? We believe the most innovative and inspiring answers to this question are as yet still before us and now is the time to begin dreaming up grant proposals!
Important Links:
The Upstate Creative Corps also has a Facebook page where they will share information and events related to the grant: https://www.facebook.com/UpstateCaliforniaCreativeCorps
Networking Assistance: The Upstate Creative Corps invites artists, cultural practitioners and culture bearers, as well as those serving organizations tackling important local and regional issues, to communicate both within and beyond their usual circles, in order to share a deeper understanding of one another’s work, and to promote partnerships across the region. We hope your daily conversations will inspire new projects that create awareness for public health, environmental issues, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery, civic engagement and social justice issues. Join the “Conversation Cafe” on Facebook to network and brainstorm grant proposals across the region here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativecorpsconversationcafe
In early November 2022, Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture and Nevada County Arts Council co-hosted a “Listening Tour” and introduction to the Healthy Places Index, an important element of the California Creative Corps. A recording of the meeting is available at this link.
A recording of David Kipen’s talk “WPA & the California Creative Corps” on January 17th is here.
FAQ
