DCA
Cultural Grant Program Contact Information
phone: 213.202.5566
fax: 213.202.5515
email us at: dca.grants@lacity.org

What kinds of opportunities are available?

Organizational Grants
The Department of Cultural Affairs offers grants to nonprofit arts/cultural agencies such as museums, theaters, dance companies, etc. These “contracts for services that support public benefit activities” provide operational or artistic project support to organizations and collaborative partners (such as social service organizations that apply with qualified arts agencies). DCA’s grant awards foster arts management, dance, culture/history, literature, media, music, outdoor festivals/parades, theater, visual/design arts, traditional/folk arts and multi-disciplinary arts.
The applicant organization’s mission as well as the size of its most recently completed fiscal year budget will determine the capacity and category (Large Budget, Mid-Size, Small, or Entry-Level) for which it may apply. For a general overview of grant types, categories and application deadlines, click here.

Note about Outdoor Festivals and Parades
Local nonprofit arts/cultural organizations may submit more than one proposal, particularly if the second application is for the partnership production of an Outdoor Festival or Parade  which will take place at one public site (such as a City Park) or in one geographic public area (such as a business corridor of specific streets) over one or two days. Although it is recommended that an arts/cultural organization be the primary applicant for this type of DCA grant, partnerships between nonprofit 501c3 social service organizations, 501c6 business associations (such as chambers of commerce) and specialized event producers are also eligible. Outdoor Festival and Parade grants generally support venue costs, marketing costs, artists fees and/or technical costs in order to foster accessibility, cultural diversity, and geographic equity. Application partners should have at least one year of experience presenting the proposed event to the public. See the application forms or call the DCA Cultural Grant Program staff for further details.

Artists-In-Residence Grants
The Artist-In-Residence program offers individual artists an opportunity to design and implement one participatory art program with a target audience at a community organization or a site that is not traditionally focused on arts programming. These awards are intended to foster new friendships, new skills, or new appreciation of the arts. The dual nature of the projects proposed in this category foster the employment of artists as creative resources in non-traditional places and position the arts as a vital part of neighborhood improvement and community dialogue. Applicants should be residents of Los Angeles County, should have a minimum of three years experience in their field (dance, design, media, literary arts, music, theater, traditional/folk arts or visual arts), and propose projects that will occur within the City of Los Angeles. For submission deadlines, click here

City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) Individual Artist Fellowships
The prestigious City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) Fellowships honor a selection of the best of Los Angeles contemporary arts. These awards allow very accomplished artists to focus on creating new works. Meanwhile, the Cultural Affairs Department collaborates with community partners to organize a museum exhibition, a performing arts showcase, and publish an illustrated catalog that promote the new work by these artists and distinguish Los Angeles as a major center of creative activity in the United States. Eligible artists must reside in Los Angeles County and demonstrate an active exhibition and/or production record of at least 15 years. For submission deadlines, click here.

Can anyone help me fill out the application?
Yes! The Grants Program staff offers free instructional workshops on how to fill out DCA grant forms, click here

Whom do I contact if I have any questions?
The Grants Program staff is available to answer your questions. We can be reached by telephone at 213.202.5566, by fax 213.202.5515, or by email at dca.grants@lacity.org