Arts Orange County and the Orange County Musicians Union, (Local 7, American Federation of Musicians), are pleased to join hands with Californians for the Arts in convening a Regional Conversation next month. The gathering is intended to brief local arts leaders and arts concerned citizens about arts advocacy successes in 2021, goals for 2022, and to inform attendees about changes resulting from the re-mapped districts at the County, State and Congressional level. The event will be held via Zoom (changed from live in person). Admission is free, but reservations are required. Details here.

In the latest round of grants announced by the National Endowment for the Arts, four organizations in Orange County received funding:

• Easter Seals Southern California - $20,000
• Ektaa Center - $10,000
• South Coast Repertory - $25,000
• The Frida Cinema - $10,000

Nationwide, nearly 1,500 organizations received a total of $33 million in this round of funding. Read the full announcement here.

The NEA awards grants multiple times each year in a variety of different grant categories. Application deadlines also are also on a staggered schedule throughout the year. More information about NEA grants programs here.

Applications open on January 19th for the first cycle of 2022 California Arts Council grants programs. These programs include:

• Cultural Pathways – Up to $30,000 for two years of support for arts programs in communities of color, recent immigrant and refugee communities, or tribal groups.

• Impact Projects – Up to $20,000 for collaborative projects that center artists and artistic practice in responding to issues currently faced by California’s communities, prioritizing projects of small organizations.

• JUMP StArts – Up to $50,000 for high-quality arts education and artists-in-residence programs for priority youth and young people impacted by the justice system.

• Reentry Through the Arts – Up to $50,000 for arts projects for return residents who have experienced incarceration.

A FREE webinar overview will be offered on Wednesday, January 26 at 1 pm and the video will be available on the California Arts Council website following the webinar.

More details here, including information about the second cycle of grants, opening in April.

We acknowledge with respect our presence on the ancestral lands of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians - Acjachemen Nation and the Tongva People.