KDA awarded Individual Artist Fellowship grant from California Arts Council to re-grant unrestricted funding fellowships to individual artists residing in California's Central Valley and Eastern Sierra region!
ABOUT
The California Arts Council (CAC) Individual Artists Fellowship program supports exceptional individual artists and culture bearers throughout California by providing unrestricted funding that helps sustain artistic practice and build long-term capacity. This fellowship recognizes artistic excellence, creative vision, and meaningful engagement with community, uplifting artists whose work strengthens cultural life across the state.
The Individual Artists Fellowship program welcomes artists from all disciplines and creative traditions. Funds are intended to support artists at pivotal moments in their careers, allowing them to advance their practice, expand impact, and deepen community connection. Recipients receive recognition as a California Arts Council Artist Fellow and may use funds in ways that best support their work.
SERVICE REGION
California’s Central Valley and Eastern Sierra Region:
- California Arts Council (CAC) Individual Artists Fellowship is a statewide initiative; however, the KDA guidelines are specifically designed for artists living and working in the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra Region
- KDA is the only Administering Organization awarding fellowship grants to Region 4: Central Valley & Eastern Sierra
- KDA IAF Region: Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne counties
Are you an artist representing a different region?
See CAC’s list of Individual Artist Fellowship AO’s for all 8 regions HERE
FELLOWSHIP AWARD LEVELS
Fellowships are offered at three tiers based on career stage:
DETAILS
For artists in the earlier stages of their practice who are beginning to present work publicly and establish a presence in their field.
DETAILS
For artists with a sustained practice who regularly make their work public and have demonstrated a meaningful impact through their artistic output.
DETAILS
For artists with a significant body of work that has contributed deeply to their communities over time; Legacy Fellows often serve as mentors or leaders within their artistic networks.
To be eligible, artists must:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be a California-based individual artist or culture bearer.
- Show two consecutive years of California residency.
- Live, work, and/or serve within the 14-county service region.
- Apply as an individual artist (groups, collectives, and fiscal sponsors are not eligible).
Applications are evaluated by peer panels based on:
- Creative Vision: Clear communication of personal story, artistic practice/medium, and long-term aspirations for their work.
- Aesthetic Excellence: Strong alignment with one or more components of the Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change* (commitment, communal meaning, disruption, cultural integrity, risk taking, sensory and emotional experience, openness, coherence, resourcefulness, stickiness).
- Community Engagement and Social Impact: Artists effectively communicate their engagement with their community(ies) and the positive social impact their work has had locally, regionally, and/or statewide, addressing themes including but not limited to race, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- Measuring Success: Demonstrates fellowship goals and how the fellow award will support the success of the applicant.
- Work Samples: Demonstrates effectiveness in artistic practice.
Applicants are invited to review the KDA Individual Artist Fellowship Grant Guidelines to explore the full program.
Applicants will be asked to submit:
- Narrative responses about artistic history, goals, and community engagement.
- Proof of residency in Region 4.
- A professional resume.
- Work samples (images, audio/video, writing, or other media that represent artistic practice).
- A letter of recommendation from someone familiar with the applicant’s work.
Application Opens: May 1, 2026
Application Deadline: June 12, 2026 (11:59 p.m.)
Panel Review: June/Jul 2026
Funding Decisions & Notifications: July 2026
Fellowship Activity Period: August 1, 2026- June 30, 2027
The KDA Individual Artists Fellowship program offers artists freedom and flexibility to deepen creative work without restriction on use of funds. It strengthens artistic careers, enhances cultural vitality across California, and celebrates artistic leadership in diverse communities, including the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra communities.
INTERESTED IN APPLYING?
Applications for the KDA Individual Artist Fellowship program will open on May 1, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to review eligibility requirements and prepare your materials in advance to be ready when the application period begins.
LEARN MORE → KDA IAF Grant Guidelines
GET THE FAQs → KDA Fact Sheet
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW→ Submit the KDA Individual Artists Fellowship Interest Form to receive up-to-date information on application support opportunities and notifications for application dates and deadlines!
NEED SUPPORT BEFORE YOU APPLY?
Applicants are invited to attend free Individual Artists Fellowship program education webinars offered via Zoom. The webinars will offer a variety of program support, clarification, and instruction. The webinars will be live and attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the KDA team. The webinars will also be recorded for access after the live event.
- May 4 @ 12:00 pm – Individual Artists Fellowship Overview / Which Tier Should I Apply For?
- May 11 @ 12:00 pm – Creating a Strong Individual Artists Fellowship Application
- May 18 @ 12:00 pm – Individual Artists Fellowship Application Tech Support
ZOOM WEBINAR REGISTRATION WILL OPEN THE WEEK OF APRIL 27, 2026!
CONTACT US: hello@kda-ca.org