California Arts Council

Established by the State of California in 1976, the California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all. 

We are California’s only public arts grants provider with funding that is accessible to all 58 counties. As a state agency, we support local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, programs, and services. The arts sector is large and diverse and its businesses and workforce are a significant contributor to our state economy and identity. California is home to 11,563 nonprofit arts organizations and our state’s creative sector accounts for $18.67 billion in assets and 15.4% of California’s total employment.