The Arts in California Parks - Implementation Grants

The Arts in California Parks grants program is a statewide initiative focused on enriching local communities through public art and cultural programming. Established as a three-year pilot beginning in 2024, the program is now in its final year. It is administered with the goal of activating local park spaces throughout California by supporting the implementation of community-centered artistic and cultural projects. Through the lens of art and storytelling, the program seeks to amplify diverse voices, celebrate regional history, and foster deeper relationships with California’s cultural and natural landscapes. Over its first two years, the initiative has awarded $5.4 million to 61 projects across the state, with $2.6 million earmarked for awards in this final year of the pilot. The current grant cycle for 2026–2027 will focus exclusively on Implementation Grants, designed for organizations that have already developed strong, local partnerships and are ready to deliver programs. Planning or development-focused proposals will not be accepted in this cycle due to time constraints in the pilot program’s timeline. The Implementation Grant supports a 12-month performance period running from October 2026 through September 2027. Eligible projects must occur in local parks or open spaces, and must be open to the general public. The definition of eligible land includes property owned or managed by cities, counties, community service districts, regional park districts, land trusts, nonprofits, or other non-federal and non-state entities. Schoolyards may also qualify under specific joint-use agreements with public access signage. Organizations eligible to apply include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, California Native American tribes, 7871 tribal organizations and trusts, fiscally sponsored groups, community foundations, and local government agencies, excluding California State Parks and federal lands. The grant process begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI), which serves as a screening step to confirm project alignment with program goals and eligibility standards. Only selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application, which will include detailed project plans, budgets, and required documentation. The LOI submission period opens on February 9, 2026, and closes on March 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PT. An informational session will be held on February 17, 2026, to assist interested applicants in understanding program requirements and crafting strong proposals. Weekly office hours will also be hosted between February 18 and March 10 to support applicants. Organizations whose LOIs are approved will be invited to submit full proposals in June 2026, with final grantee announcements scheduled for October 2026. The grant evaluation will consider the strength of partnerships, alignment with community needs, and the project’s potential to deliver meaningful public engagement. A regional equity approach will be used to ensure statewide impact; at least two top-ranked projects will be selected from each region of California. Additional resources are available to applicants through a centralized Resource Hub that provides access to guidance materials, an artist directory for potential collaboration, and a promotional toolkit for outreach.

Strong implementation proposals with community-centered goals and well-established partnerships will be prioritized.