DCA’s Cultural Grants Program invests in free and/or low-costs activities and projects for the public (which will take place between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024), that are proposed by the following types of vendors/applicants:

•  A non-profit arts organization may propose an Artistic Project, in one primary art form or discipline (which is also the selection to the expertise of the review panel). In the special case of youth-education projects with a in-school lesson plans, an applicant should not apply under their discipline, but instead select SAIL-CAPE, Sequential Arts in-school learning Culminating in Afterschool Public Events. This category specifically compared and supports youth-learning projects that begin within enrollment-only classrooms yet culminate in one (or more) presentations which are after-school and marketed-to-the general public. Three variety-arts categories are available for projects which cross disciplines (culture/history, multidisciplinary (for avant-garde fusions) and traditional/folk arts). Please consult the staff if you are unclear which discipline is most accurate for your proposal.
• A partnership between a non-profit community-service organization (an organization whose mission and programs are not arts-exclusive but include cultural offerings) may ONLY propose to plan and present an outdoor festival or parade in partnership with a tribal elder, arts curator, or arts agency. For DCA’s Outdoor Festivals/Parades category, the minimum attendance/engagement requirement to qualify in this category is 1,000. A large outdoor festivals/parades (with 2,001+ attendees in the prior year) may request up to $30,000. While a small outdoor festival/parade (with1000 to 2000 attendees from a prior year) may request up to $15,000. Online festivals that are videotaped/podcast from one or more outdoor location(s) within the City of LA and were able to garner 4,000 more project-engagers (with an estimate 50% within the City of LA) in their prior year, may request up to $20,000. Outdoor festival/parade proposals are accepted each year, but it is best that outdoor performing-arts festivals be submitted in even-numbered years, while outdoor craft fairs be submitted in odd-numbered years.

DCA’s Grants Program Office provides panel scores that can be held for two consecutive years (two one-year contracts), so applicants are encouraged to propose a project which can be repeated (in general or with a related theme) for a second year/term.

Applicants in odd-numbered years (such as 2023 or 2025) are encouraged to apply within one of these categories: culture/history presentations, literature or publishing projects, media activities or presentations, design/visual art exhibitions or museum projects, or traditional/folk arts activities/presentations.

Applicants in even-numbered years (such as 2022 or 2024) are encouraged to apply within any of these categories: dance concerts or classes, music concerts or classes, theatrical workshops or productions, and/or multi-disciplinary arts activities.

New applicants, that are non-performing arts focused, are considered “off-cycle” for 2022 are encouraged to call the staff for advice rather than selecting the wrong art discipline, which results in being disqualified or reviewed by a panel with the wrong expertise.

Visit Grants page to see eligibility requirements, find workshop and webinar dates, and the application link.