Living Cultures Grant

Above, watch the Funding Opportunities Info Session from March 10, 2022, in English. To watch the Info Session from March 16, 2022, in English, please click here.

Arriba, vea la sesión informativa sobre oportunidades de financiamiento del 16 de marzo de 2022 en español.

Program Description

The Living Cultures Grant Program was developed in 2004 to provide project grants to California’s diverse cultural communities. The Living Cultures grant helps cultural groups and non-profit organizations throughout the state realize community-based projects aimed at strengthening a sense of place, fostering traditional creativity, and ensuring cultural continuity.

ACTA makes it possible for us to live our dreams.” 
—Tsering Wangmo, Chaksam-pa Tibetan Dance & Opera Company, 2019 Living Cultures grantee

Timeline

APPLICATION PERIOD

The 2022 round of the Living Cultures grant opens on March 1, 2022. Applications are due by May 3, 2022. For the 2022 round, activities between July 15, 2022 and July 15, 2023 will be supported. Subscribe to ACTA’s monthly newsletter for the most up to date info.

What We Fund

Pathways to nurture, sustain, and engage participation in traditional arts

Cultural continuity of traditional arts practices:

• Workshops and gatherings (for example, events that bring together artists, cultural specialists or community leaders to share skills and information or to engage in discussion and problem solving)
• Conservation, creation, or acquisition of important traditional arts items
• Intergenerational classes or other educational programs within a community (after-school youth programs, dance ensemble classes or practices, summer programs, etc.)
• Other kinds of mentorships with “culture bearers,” honoraria, travel costs within CA., etc. By “culture bearer” we mean a person who is recognized for their skills and knowledge in a particular traditional expression. (Please note that intensive, one-on-one artistic mentorships should apply to ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program instead.)
• Endangered language conservation and revitalization projects when carried out within the context of traditional art forms
• Other types of activities and projects that lead to cultural continuity of traditional arts practices

Sustaining future arts practices with needed purchases, services, or acquiring new skills

• Equipment and materials purchases (instruments, media equipment, costumes or regalia, etc.)
• Documentation of traditional arts,  skills,  ceremony, beliefs, or performances
• An investment to result in future revenues (fee for services for marketing consultation, website development, financial planning, etc.)
• Learning new skills by supporting mentorships with advisors or cultural specialists
• Other types of activities and projects that lead to long-term sustainability of traditional arts practices

Engaging and strengthening our own communities as well as engaging with others

• Public presentations, such as community-based concerts, festivals, and exhibitions that foster active participation
• Other types of activities and projects that lead to active participation in traditional arts practices within and between cultural communities

Resources

• Browse previous organizations who have received funding from ACTA.
• Read about recent Living Cultures grantees from 2021, and 2020.

Downloadable Hard Copy (Paper) Application

Please first consider applying online via Submittable. If you feel more comfortable applying by mail with a downloadable print application, you may access the application in English or Spanish below.

Solicitud Física Descargable en Español

Por favor considera solicitar en línea por medio de Submittable. Si te sientes más cómodx solicitando por correo tradicional por medio de una solicitud que puedas descargar e imprimir, puedes acceder a ella y descargarla abajo en inglés o español.

Funders

The Living Cultures Grant Program is a program of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) and is generously supported by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Walter and Elise Haas Fund.