CALI Catalyst provides unrestricted grants of up to $7,500 to California changemakers who are creating tangible impact within the arts and culture sector by shifting power and influence to underrepresented voices.

The California Art Leadership Investments (CALI) Catalyst program launched in 2021 to provide financial support and validation to individuals whose frontline work to upend the status quo in the arts and culture sector is creating tangible change and moving the needle towards greater equity and inclusion. We can look to recent CALI Catalyst grantees and their work to see these ripple effects within the sector. In Santa Ana, Alicia Rojas is working to preserve the history and contributions of overlooked artists through mural restoration, public art advocacy, and local policy engagement. In Los Angeles, Tatiana Vahan launched the Los Angeles Artist Census to better understand working conditions and economic realities faced by artists, using data to advocate for greater support and visibility. And in Vallejo, the Personal Space Gallery team has established an inclusive community art space that features exhibitions and programs reflecting the diversity of the region’s creative voices, with a focus on accessibility and equity for artists from a broad range of backgrounds.

When individuals take bold steps to challenge entrenched systems or practices, they risk sacrificing their jobs, social status, and reputation, and more often than not, their hard labor goes unpaid. CALI Catalyst recognizes that this is precisely the time when the arts and culture sector needs to support these changemakers who are ensuring that historically underrepresented communities, such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities, and those in rural areas, continue to be represented and included. By speaking out and taking action, such as exposing discriminatory hiring practices or disrupting harmful philanthropic norms, these individuals make the arts and culture field better for everyone. The CALI Catalyst grant program aims to support such leaders financially, recognizing that the fear of financial risk can silence voices and discourage meaningful change.

To help ensure that the momentum for field-wide change continues undeterred, CALI Catalyst will support artists and arts workers who are on the frontlines of making the field more accessible, welcoming, and representative of the communities they serve. 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

CALI Catalyst applicants can be individuals or teams of individuals. To be eligible for funding consideration: 

• Applicants must be artists or arts workers (e.g., arts administrators, cultural producers, culture bearers, creatives, cultural practitioners, teaching artists, or specialized technicians).
• Applicants (including all team members) must reside full-time in California. 
• Applicants’ change-making action(s) must have taken place or started (i.e., the action is still in progress) on or after January 1, 2020.
• Applicant’s change-making action must have impacted the arts and culture sector in tangible and measurable ways at a local, regional, state, or national level.

 The following are ineligible for funding consideration: 

• Organizations (e.g., nonprofits, for-profits, fiscally sponsored organizations) requesting funding to support their operations; 
• Individuals or teams of individuals who describe a change-making action that started or took place before January 1, 2020;
• Individuals or teams of individuals who are requesting funding to support an organization;
• Past CALI Catalyst grantees describing the same body of work previously recognized by this program;
• Individuals or teams of individuals who have a conflict of interest (family or financial relationship) with the board, staff, or directors of the Center for Cultural Innovation; 
• Requests for funding to support a project that is in the beginning or developing stages; and
• Incomplete applications or applications with inaccessible (e.g., password-protected, broken links) attachments. 

AWARD DETAILS

• Unrestricted grants of up to $7,500 will be awarded to support a grantee’s ability to benefit their community.
• Year Three (2025) of CALI Catalyst’s three-year award cycle has $112,500 in available funding, which will support approximately 15 grantees. 
• Grantees will be invited to one or more virtual gatherings in winter 2026 to connect with other CALI Catalyst award recipients.

HOW TO APPLY

CALI Catalyst will offer two open application rounds in 2025. These are:

• Round #1
  Applications will be accepted from May 27, 2025, at 9 a.m. PT through July 11, 2025, at 11:59 a.m. PT. Notifications will be sent via Submittable on August 25, 2025, by 5 p.m. PT. 

• Round #2
  Applications will be accepted from June 30, 2025, at 9 a.m. PT through August 15, 2025, at 11:59 a.m. PT. Notifications will be sent via Submittable on October 3, 2025, by 5 p.m. PT. 

APPLICATION SUPPORT

CCI will host an information session on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. PT that will provide an overview of the application, helpful tips, and a live Q&A. Register HERE to attend the information session. If you are unable to attend, a recording will be available upon request.

In addition, CCI will host three virtual “Office Hour” sessions for applicants to ask questions and receive answers from staff in real time on:

• June 10 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. PT (Register Here)
• June 18 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. PT (Register Here)
• July 1 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. PT (Register Here)

Office Hours are not formal presentations and will not be recorded; you must pre-register to attend. 

APPLY

 Guidelines 

 Application Preview    Application Preview

 Frequently Asked Questions

 Submittable Quick Tips

The 2025 application cycle opens May 27, 2025, at 9 a.m. PT. 

START YOUR APPLICATION

QUESTIONS & SUPPORT

CCI staff are here to help and listen. For assistance, please email us at grants@cciarts.org (include CALI Catalyst in the subject line) or call 415.288.0530. You may also schedule a time to speak here. For Deaf applicants and those with hearing loss, contact CCI using the California Relay Service—our staff is trained in making and receiving these calls.

If you need technical assistance (e.g., password or upload issues), request support at: https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/. Submittable’s business hours are 9 am – 5 pm MT. They aim to respond within 24 business hours.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The CALI Catalyst grant program is made possible with support from: