State-Local Partners

The State-Local Partners (SLP) program, managed by the California Arts Council (CAC), is a foundational grant initiative aimed at fostering arts and cultural development throughout California’s counties. Through this program, general operating support and technical assistance are provided to county-designated local arts agencies (LAAs) that serve as a bridge between the state and local communities. These local arts agencies promote artistic access, equity, and cultural preservation by supporting artists, arts organizations, and the public. The SLP program forms part of a broader effort to establish a collaborative partnership between the state and counties of California, built on principles of funding, knowledge-sharing, leadership, and cooperative activities. Local arts agencies, as defined by CAC, are county-recognized organizations—either nonprofit or government-based—that deliver financial support, services, and programming across their respective counties. To be eligible, applicants must be formally designated as a State-Local Partner by their County Board of Supervisors. Organizations eligible to apply include California-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities, municipal, county, or Tribal governments, and fiscally sponsored groups. The maximum request amount is $75,000 for a one-year grant period beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. A 1:1 funding match is required only for organizations with annual revenues of $1 million or more. Organizations with annual revenue below $250,000 face no funding restrictions, while those above $250,000 are limited to requesting no more than 50% of their total revenue in CAC grant funding within the same fiscal year. The 2025 grant cycle opens on April 2, 2025, with a final application deadline of June 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Applications will be reviewed by a panel in July–August 2025, with award notifications expected in September. Funds are projected to be distributed between January and March 2026. All grantees are required to submit a final report by October 30, 2026. To support potential applicants, CAC offers virtual office hours hosted by Arts Program Specialist Jonathan Estrada on April 7, May 5, and May 27, 2025. These are drop-in sessions that require advance registration. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to Jonathan Estrada at slpgrant@arts.ca.gov for guidance well in advance of the application deadline. All applications must be submitted via the CAC’s online grants portal at calartscouncil.smartsimple.com.