With funding totaling more than $31 million for more than 1,100 grants benefiting nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies across California, the California Arts Council today announced its first round of grant awards for 2022. In total, more than $40 million is anticipated to be spent on grants during the normal program cycle of 2022.

The dollar amount for Cycle A already marks the largest annual investment in the California Arts Council’s 46-year history. Nine more programs are slated for funding in Cycle B, and additional opportunities for Administration Organization grants will open in the coming months.

“We are elated today to be able to say that, with this first round of funds, we are placing a historic amount of money into the very worthy hands of California’s arts and cultural workforce—and with more yet to come,” said California Arts Council Chair Lilia Gonzáles-Chávez. “We have long since understood the value of our artists in this state, and we are incredibly grateful to our Governor and our Legislature for their support and sharing in a like-minded vision for a California where all people flourish with access to and participation in the arts.”

Within Cycle A, funds were given out to groups in seven distinct program areas, with a focus on the CAC’s initiatives to address geographic equity, promote autonomy and sustainability for smaller organizations, and strengthen regional arts agencies and their collaborations.

The grant programs of the California Arts Council are managed via a multi-step, open procedure. Peer review panels from the arts and cultural areas who are representative of California’s diverse geography, racial, ethnic, and gender identities, viewpoints, and knowledge judge proposals after an open call for applications. At a virtual public meeting on May 12, the Council decided on grant allocations based on the advice of the panel and the availability of cash. In the fall, the remaining grant programs will receive their final votes for the current fiscal year.