The City of Davis is pleased to release the online application for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Arts and Culture Grants to Individual Artists. These are one-time grants to help stabilize the City’s nonprofit arts and culture sector, which experienced significant negative economic impact due to the pandemic. The grants will offer financial relief to eligible working artists and cultural practitioners whose work aligns with the goals of the City’s Arts and Cultural Affairs program, bolstering the local creative sector and retaining creative workers within the Davis community.

The City of Davis recognizes the role local artists and creative workers play in enhancing the quality of life in communities, increasing public access to the arts and contributing to economic vitality. The City also recognizes the significant economic disruptions some artists have experienced as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as loss of studio/venue space, performance and teaching opportunities, exhibition space and in-person programming. 

"The City has taken steps in the past few years to cultivate and protect the City’s arts community, and we are pleased to be able to support more talented artists and programs in Davis during the coming year,” said Mayor Lucas Frerichs. “These grants will sustain artists and creative workers of all kinds with much needed investment and support, which directly impacts our local economy."

Grants of $1,000 will be available to eligible individuals in Davis to support their professional costs that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other City of Davis Arts and Cultural Affairs Grants that offer project-based support, these funds are intended to support day-to-day expenses (rent, art supplies, insurance, transportation, application fees, etc.) due to event closures and cancellations, inability to work due to loss of space, family circumstances, or other reasons that impaired an individual’s ability to work or earn a living in the arts during the pandemic. 

Qualified applicants should fall under one or more of the following categories: visual artist, literary artist, musician, teaching artist, arts organizer, specialized artist worker (e.g., lighting or sound designers, fabricators, etc.), practitioner of dance or theatre (including choreography, writing, directing, design, theatre arts, etc.), performer of cultural tradition or cultural bearer or practitioner.  Applicants must have a physical address in Davis or be able to demonstrate that their creative work had significant impact on the Davis community prior to, or during, COVID-19. 

Applications are available online at https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=11076. All applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on January 9, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

This funding is not intended to support start-up costs for those wishing to begin arts and culture work, but rather to aid those in the arts who had a practice or career in Davis and were negatively affected by the impact the pandemic. Cost share/matching funds are not required. More information about the grant can be found on the City’s Arts and Culture page: www.cityofdavis.org/arts/. Questions can be sent to Rachel Hartsough, 
Arts and Culture Manager, at [email protected] or 530-747-5640.

Press contact: Barbara Archer, [email protected], 530-400-3418