Individual Artists Fellowship
The California Arts Council's Individual Artists Fellowship supports artists statewide with unrestricted funding and professional resources, recognizing excellence and community engagement at three career stages.
Funder: California Arts Council
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (San Diego/Region 8) | May 2027 (Nevada County/Region 1, Arts Orange County/Region 7) | June 2027 (Kala Art Institute/Region 3, Kern Dance Alliance/Region 4, Arts Council Santa Cruz County/Region 5, Teatro Nagual/Region 2, Los Angeles Performance Practice/Region 6)
Funding Amounts: $5,000 (Emerging) | $10,000 (Established) | $50,000 (Legacy); unrestricted fellowships, one-year term
Summary: Supports California artists of all disciplines with unrestricted fellowships, regional recognition, and professional support at three career stages.
Key Information: Applicants must apply through the regional administering organization for their county; only one application per artist.
Description
The Individual Artists Fellowship (IAF) program, administered by the California Arts Council (CAC) through eight regional organizations, uplifts and celebrates California artists across all disciplines and traditions. The program is grounded in equity and aims to recognize artistic excellence, creative vision, and community engagement. Fellowships are awarded at three career stages—Emerging, Established, and Legacy—providing direct, unrestricted funding and a range of support services including networking, technical assistance, and public programming. Each region has its own application process and deadlines, and applicants must apply within the region where they reside.
