The mission of the funder is to sustain and strengthen the folk and traditional arts in the state of California, recognizing these practices as vital for the cultural community's living link to a healthy future. They aim to preserve cultural continuity, empower communities, and affirm human, social, and political developments through the arts.
The Living Cultures Grants Program (LCGP) supports the preservation and continuation of folk and traditional arts within California. The program specifically funds activities that foster cultural continuity, sustainability of practices, and community engagement. This includes workshops, gatherings, intergenerational classes, mentorships, language revitalization, equipment purchases, documentation of traditional arts, and public presentations. The focus is on nurturing and engaging participation in traditional arts across diverse Californian communities, including those of marginalized and aggrieved communities, by supporting a wide range of activities that contribute to the cultural richness and heritage of the state.
Once other requirements have been satisfied, priority will be allocated to projects focusing on traditions and cultural practices that are at risk of disappearing.