CAC Emerging Artist Fellowship - Central California (Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz)

The California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship Program (CAC IAF) offers grants to artists living and working in Central California. This application is for the Emerging Artist Fellowship tier in Micro Region 3, which includes Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.

Emerging Artist Fellows receive $5,000 in unrestricted funding. Eligible applicants must be 18 years or older, have a minimum two-year history of artistic practice in California, and reside in one of the 17 eligible Central California counties. Recipients of the 2021 CAC Individual Artist Fellowship are not eligible. Emerging artists are those in the beginning stages of making their work public and engaging the larger community in their practice, with a few public showings but without yet developing a sustained public practice.

Applications require narrative responses (500, 250, and 250 word maximum responses), work samples (up to 10 digital images and/or up to 3 video/audio samples at 5 minutes maximum each), an artist resume, and one letter of support from a key stakeholder or community member. Optional supporting materials may include press materials, flyers, brochures, or programs. Applications are reviewed by peer panels based on creative vision, aesthetic excellence, and community engagement and social impact. Jury dates are 6/1/23 - 7/31/23. The Lead Agency for this micro-region is San Benito County Arts Council.