Individual Artists Grant Program

The Individual Artists Grant (IAG) program, offered by the Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC), is designed to recognize and support artistic excellence by providing direct financial assistance to artists at different stages in their careers. This grant aims to help artists take their work to the next level while fostering public appreciation of the arts within the Monterey County community. The program awards grants of up to $5,000 for emerging artists and up to $10,000 for established artists who can demonstrate the significant impact this funding will have on their work and the broader community. Emerging Artists are those in the early stages of publicly sharing their work and engaging the community. They may have had a few public showings but do not yet have ongoing support or resources. Sixteen awards of up to $5,000 each will be distributed to artists within this category across Monterey County. Established Artists, by contrast, are individuals who regularly present their work to the public and have made significant social and cultural impacts. Two grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to artists in this category. To be eligible, applicants must be residents of Monterey County for at least two years and be able to provide proof of residency. Additionally, applicants must be at least 18 years old. Staff and board members of Arts4MC are not eligible to apply for this grant. The program is open to artists from all disciplines, encouraging diverse creative expression and cultural engagement. Applications for the 2025 grant cycle open on February 11, 2025, and will close on March 24, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Applicants are encouraged to review the provided sample application, grant guidelines, and budget template before submitting their proposals. This is an annual opportunity, with the 2024 grant cycle having awarded nearly $100,000 in funding to 19 local artists. For further information, interested applicants can contact the Arts Council for Monterey County via email at info@arts4mc.org or by phone at 831-622-9060. The organization’s mailing address is 24600 Silver Cloud Ct, Ste 202, Monterey, CA 93940. More details, including past award recipients, can be found on the Arts4MC website.