What is California Creative Corps?

California Creative Corps is a new workforce development opportunity for artists and cultural practitioners, arts and social service sector organizations. This grant program aims to employ artists to create awareness around public health, water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery, civic engagement and social justice.
The 2021-22 State Budget included a $60 million one-time General Fund allocation for the California Arts Council to implement the California Creative Corps pilot program, a media, outreach, and engagement campaign designed to increase awareness related to issues such as public health, water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery.
California Arts Council has selected fourteen organizations to administer the California Creative Corps across nine regions with a grant activity period that launched on October 1st. Nevada County Arts Council has been chosen to create a regranting program for Upstate California, putting to work $4,230,216 in workforce development funds for artists, as well as for arts and social service organizations who will employ artists between early 2023 and late 2024. Supporting local outreach with local knowledge, as well as technical assistance for artists, and program development and evaluation, are multiple county arts agencies serving what amounts to the largest, most diverse, geographic area in California, with more counties than any other Creative Corps region.
California Arts Council sees the California Creative Corps program primarily as a job creation and human infrastructure development opportunity. The hope is that, region by region, the program will increase the ways in which artists are engaged in public work, so that they can continue build upon intersectional public interest goals beyond it’s the program’s pilot funding timeline.
More program details available at upstatecreativecorps.org
The 2021-22 State Budget included a $60 million one-time General Fund allocation for the California Arts Council to implement the California Creative Corps pilot program, a media, outreach, and engagement campaign designed to increase awareness related to issues such as public health, water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery.
California Arts Council has selected fourteen organizations to administer the California Creative Corps across nine regions with a grant activity period that launched on October 1st. Nevada County Arts Council has been chosen to create a regranting program for Upstate California, putting to work $4,230,216 in workforce development funds for artists, as well as for arts and social service organizations who will employ artists between early 2023 and late 2024. Supporting local outreach with local knowledge, as well as technical assistance for artists, and program development and evaluation, are multiple county arts agencies serving what amounts to the largest, most diverse, geographic area in California, with more counties than any other Creative Corps region.
California Arts Council sees the California Creative Corps program primarily as a job creation and human infrastructure development opportunity. The hope is that, region by region, the program will increase the ways in which artists are engaged in public work, so that they can continue build upon intersectional public interest goals beyond it’s the program’s pilot funding timeline.
More program details available at upstatecreativecorps.org
Grant Applications Open Now!
Requests for Proposals will be open February 14 through April 28.
Requests for Proposals will be open February 14 through April 28.
“The grant monies are specifically for hiring artists, but the project ideas are endless,” says Plumas Arts Executive Director Kara Rockett-Arsenault. “I have been to quite a few brainstorming sessions for the grant and have heard many incredible ideas. Everything from public transportation awareness and health care coverage advocacy to issues dealing with voter awareness, wildfire recovery, the housing crisis, watershed health, and issues facing local tribes. Grants will not be restricted to any medium and can include dance, creative writing, music, sculpture, murals, digital art, videography, theatre, photography, storytelling, and more.”
Grant guidelines are currently available, and the application period is open through April 14th. Smaller grants will be available for individual artists, mid-sized grants will be available for artist/organization partnerships, and larger grants will be available for multi-county partnerships. Organizations can use the money to hire an artist in residence, produce public works of art, create an awareness campaign, and more.
Plumas Arts will provide several grant workshops once the application process opens, as well as networking opportunities for agencies or organizations that have ideas, but don’t know how to connect with the artists.
Grants need to address one or more of these program goals:
Grant guidelines are currently available, and the application period is open through April 14th. Smaller grants will be available for individual artists, mid-sized grants will be available for artist/organization partnerships, and larger grants will be available for multi-county partnerships. Organizations can use the money to hire an artist in residence, produce public works of art, create an awareness campaign, and more.
Plumas Arts will provide several grant workshops once the application process opens, as well as networking opportunities for agencies or organizations that have ideas, but don’t know how to connect with the artists.
Grants need to address one or more of these program goals:
- Public health awareness messages
- Public awareness of environment-related issues, such as water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery
- Civic engagement, such as election participation
- Social justice and community engagement
Ways to Get your Questions Answered
Email or Call Kara Rockett-Arsenault at Plumas Arts: kara@plumasarts.org or 530-283-3402
Upstate California Creative Corps Informational Webinar:
When: Feb 17, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Recording Available: https://youtu.be/2FvdN6Gf8CY Upstate California Creative Corps Virtual Office Hours:
Feb 28, 2023 12:00pm Mar 7, 2023 12:00pm Mar 14, 2023 12:00pm Mar 21, 2023 12:00pm Mar 28, 2023 12:00pm Apr 4, 2023 12:00pm Apr 11, 2023 12:00pm Apr 18, 2023 12:00pm Apr 25, 2023 12:00pm Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84287582858... Upstate California Creative Corps Website:
https://www.upstatecreativecorps.org/ |
Plumas Arts Drop-In Grant Help Workshops:
In Person at Plumas Arts Gallery 525 Main St in Quincy Wed March 1, 2023 3:30-5:30 pm Wed March 29, 2023 3:30-5:30 pm Wed April 5, 2023 4-6 pm Wed April 19, 2023 3:30-5:30pm Zoom Wed March 15, 2023 4-6 pm Thurs April 6, 2023 4-6 pm Thurs April 20, 2023 3:30-5:30pm |
Workshops & Trainings
Upstate California Creative Corps Informational Webinar:
When: Feb 17, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/2FvdN6Gf8CY
When: Feb 17, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/2FvdN6Gf8CY
Grant Writing Workshop:
When: Wed Feb 22, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/KXyPqsGmFZ8
When: Wed Feb 22, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/KXyPqsGmFZ8
Upstate Heathy Places Training:
When: Thurs Feb 23, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/XusrVnlC5lc
When: Thurs Feb 23, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/XusrVnlC5lc
Accessibility in the Arts:
When: Mon Feb 27, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/-oSfFWXdFXA
When: Mon Feb 27, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/-oSfFWXdFXA
Grant Writing Workshop- Developing your project budget:
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/SREoKyTgPfs
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/SREoKyTgPfs
Grant Writing Workshop- Framing your application within our review criteria:
When: Wed Apr 5, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/B_NxNHLdlxc
When: Wed Apr 5, 2023 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording Available: https://youtu.be/B_NxNHLdlxc
**Did you miss a workshop or training you really wanted to see?
You can find recordings of the workshops linked above, or here: upstatecreativecorps.org/look-and-listen
You can find recordings of the workshops linked above, or here: upstatecreativecorps.org/look-and-listen
Grant Timeline
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 : Guidelines and Application Available at https://www.upstatecreativecorps.org/apply-now
FEBRUARY 27 at 12:00 noon : Accessibility in the Arts | A Panel Discussion for Artists and Agency applicants (zoom registration link)
FEBRUARY 28 MARCH 7, 14, 21, 28 APRIL 4, 11 at 12:00 noon : Weekly Upstate Creative Corps Office Hours (zoom link)
FEBRUARY 14–April 28 : County Arts Partners offer in-person and online Local Technical Assistance events
MARCH 22 AT 12:00 noon: Grant writing Workshop- Developing your Upstate Creative Corps Project Budget (zoom registration link)
MARCH 27 AT 12:00 noon: Grant writing Workshop- Framing your application with our Review Criteria in mind (zoom registration link)
APRIL 28 at 11:59 PM : Application Deadline
MAY 4–JUNE 2: Grant Panel Review
By JUNE 2: Funding Notifications
2023-2024
JUNE 26. 2023 - JUNE 25. 2024 : Grant Activity Period
JULY 1. 2023 - JUNE 30. 2024 : Case Study Documentation
SEPTEMBER 2023 - July 1. 2024 : Grantee Reporting
NOVEMBER 2023 - Nov 2024 : Upstate-wide Online Creative Corps Showcase
AUGUST 2.2024 : Grantee Final Report Deadline
AUGUST - OCTOBER 31. 2024 : Administering Organization Completes Evaluation and Final Report to California Arts Council
FEBRUARY 27 at 12:00 noon : Accessibility in the Arts | A Panel Discussion for Artists and Agency applicants (zoom registration link)
FEBRUARY 28 MARCH 7, 14, 21, 28 APRIL 4, 11 at 12:00 noon : Weekly Upstate Creative Corps Office Hours (zoom link)
FEBRUARY 14–April 28 : County Arts Partners offer in-person and online Local Technical Assistance events
MARCH 22 AT 12:00 noon: Grant writing Workshop- Developing your Upstate Creative Corps Project Budget (zoom registration link)
MARCH 27 AT 12:00 noon: Grant writing Workshop- Framing your application with our Review Criteria in mind (zoom registration link)
APRIL 28 at 11:59 PM : Application Deadline
MAY 4–JUNE 2: Grant Panel Review
By JUNE 2: Funding Notifications
2023-2024
JUNE 26. 2023 - JUNE 25. 2024 : Grant Activity Period
JULY 1. 2023 - JUNE 30. 2024 : Case Study Documentation
SEPTEMBER 2023 - July 1. 2024 : Grantee Reporting
NOVEMBER 2023 - Nov 2024 : Upstate-wide Online Creative Corps Showcase
AUGUST 2.2024 : Grantee Final Report Deadline
AUGUST - OCTOBER 31. 2024 : Administering Organization Completes Evaluation and Final Report to California Arts Council