California Arts Council

The California Arts Council, established in 1976, is the state agency charged with advancing California's arts and culture. Its founding ethos rests on the belief that the arts are essential to the health of a democratic society, and it operates through a combination of grant programs, initiatives, and partnerships that support artists, organizations, and communities across the state. The Council's mission is to strengthen arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all. It administers a range of programs, including Artists in Schools, Cultural Pathways, and the Individual Artist Fellowship, which provide direct support to artists and arts organizations. The Council's work is guided by principles of equity, access, and inclusion, aiming to reflect the diversity of California's population and to address historical disparities in arts funding.