Established by the State of California in 1976, the California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all.
The Impact Projects grant program is designed to support collaborations that prioritize local artists and cultural expressions unique or historically rooted in under-resourced communities in California. It aims at addressing social, political, and economic inequalities through artist-led projects that involve community members in developing and expressing their creative and artistic goals. The grant supports projects addressing a variety of social issues including systemic marginalization, incarceration, access to education, and health disparities, among others. It encourages applications from groups previously engaged in project-based programs like Reentry Through the Arts and Veterans in the Arts, and informs those focused on youth arts education to consider other specific grants. All projects must be collaborative, free to community participants, accessible, include appropriate compensation for artists, and ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities.