FAQs
ELIGIBILITY
1. When are grant applications due?
Grant applications will be accepted starting January 25th, 2023 at 9am PST until March 3rd, 2023 at 6pm PST.
2. Who can have apply for the Vibrant Cities Arts Grant (VCAG)?
Practicing artists living in The County of Los Angeles as determined by mailing address. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application, provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and show that they had been working as a practicing artist for a minimum of two years.
Applicants are only eligible to be awarded one grant from this fund. Applicants can NOT be a full-time employee, member, officer or immediate family member of any of the VCAG partners.
3. What qualifies as an eligible artist for this grant?
We look to support as many creative and artistic practices as possible, but we ask that each applicant identify as best as possible with one of the listed categories. While we recognize that many artists cross disciplines, in order for our panelists to have efficiently review and award the grant funds we ask artists do their best to select a practice that most closely aligns with their work as an artist.
Non-profits, artist collectives, or other artistic groups will not be considered. This grant is for individual artists only.
4. Do artists need to propose a specific project to apply for a grant?
No. The VCAG is designed to support artists in financial need. We only asked that applicants provide some detail on their financial needs.
Please note, that while eligibility is broad, grants are focused on supporting artists that are traditionally underrepresented including artists of color, female artists and LGBTQ+ artists. Artists who present work seeking to enrich and inform the public on important subjects such as social justice, civil rights, the physical environment and other contemporary issues are also given preference.
SELECTION PROCESS
5. How do artists apply for the grant?
Artists apply through an online submission form on the Vibrant Cities Arts Grant Website.
6. How are applications approved for grants?
Artist applications will be scored by a selection panel based on a set scoring rubric which can be viewed HERE. A minimum required score of 60/100 total points are required to be awarded a grant. Grants will be reviewed and approved on a first-come basis until funds are exhausted.
7. When do artists know if they were approved for a grant?
We expect a large number of applications to be received, which will be reviewed as quickly as possible. All grants will be awarded by April 15, 2023. Notifications will be sent via each applicant’s Submittable account and the email associated with that account. Unfortunately, we are not able to respond to individual questions about the grants, due to the high number of applications.
8. Are artists notified even they were not selected for a grant?
Yes, all applicants will receive a notification either way.
AWARDS
9. How quickly are funds distributed?
We work to distribute the funds as quickly as possible. Funds are distributed the first week of each month for artists that had been approved by the 15th of the previous month to allow the necessary documentation to be filed.
10. What do we require to issue grants?
This grant is made possible as part of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Arts Development Fee programs, so each awardee must provide a DCA Artist Questionnaire. A W9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) are also required.
11. Will artists be taxed on this grant?
1099’s are not be issued for this grant, but it is up to individual applicants to determine their own tax matters. Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number's (ITIN) are collected for processing and records purposes only.
12. Will artists’ information be made public if they are awarded a grant?
No. Personal information disclosed as part of this grant process will not be made public or shared without your written consent. Information is only for scoring and awarding purposes.