Funder: City of Los Angeles – Department of Cultural Affairs
Due Dates: October 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm (Online submission)
Funding Amounts: NEAR: $12,000; CO-UP: $15,000 for residencies during July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028
Summary: Supports teaching artists and social justice nonprofits delivering participatory arts residencies in arts-underserved Los Angeles communities.
Key Information: Applicants must be Los Angeles County-based, but all residency activities must take place within the City of Los Angeles.
Description
The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) supports community-based, participatory arts projects through NEAR and CO-UP. Residencies bring teaching artists into non-arts venues where cultural opportunities are absent or scarce. Participants engage in sequential workshops, co-create work, and share their experiences through a culminating public presentation. Projects should connect creative thinking with skill building and cultural issues while helping participants understand an art form and develop their creativity.
NEAR supports freelance artist-led projects; CO-UP connects social justice nonprofits with teaching artists for new or pilot collaborations. Both programs help neighborhood organizations test arts programming and explore sustained artist relationships. DCA seeks equitable access across the City’s 15 Council Districts, with particular emphasis on historically arts-underserved neighborhoods.
