California x Culture Bearers & Artist Disruptors Awards
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CULTURAL POWER
Cultural Power is a cultural strategy nonprofit that activates and mobilizes Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Artist Disruptors and Culture Bearers to envision a world in which cultural, economic and political power are distributed equitably, and where all human beings can live in harmony with nature. We promote the artist as a key agent of cultural and narrative change and are committed to building the collective power of artists.
MISSION
Diverse artists transform the world through their powerful art - stories, images, and songs. The Center for Cultural Power creates a thriving ecosystem for diverse artists and culture makers to shift worldviews away from domination and extraction toward collaboration and interdependence.
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA X CULTURE BEARERS & ARTIST DISRUPTORS AWARDS
In partnership with the California Arts Council (CAC), the Center for Cultural Power will provide two strands for this award opportunity for 30 Culture Bearers and 30 Artist Disruptors. Culture Bearers and Artists Disruptors must live and/or work in specific California zip codes (based on the California Healthy Places Index within the bottom 25th Quartile; HPI). Each award is for $15,000 to develop new or existing projects and/or content that advances at least one of the CAC’s focus areas below:
- public health awareness messages to stop the spread of COVID-19;
- public awareness related to water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery;
- civic engagement, including election participation;
- and/or social justice and community engagement.
STRAND 1: CULTURE BEARERS
Culture Bearers are practitioners, artists, and carriers of indigenous, ancestral, and/or traditional knowledge who weave past, present, and future stewardship of land, culture, community, and spirit. They are cultural stewards and help us understand traditional ways of knowing and creating as paths to community health and healing. “They represent an embedded presence in place, community trust and mutual support” (Weaving Forward, March 2022).
Diverse artists transform the world through their powerful art—stories, images, and songs. The Center for Cultural Power (Cultural Power) creates a thriving ecosystem for diverse artists and culture makers to shift worldviews away from domination and extraction toward collaboration and interdependence.
STRAND 2: ARTIST DISRUPTORS
Artist Disruptors are artists who are rooted in community, who inspire action, and who are working at the intersection of art and social justice. Artist Disruptors are able to powerfully manifest narratives into stories and visuals that speak directly to their audiences and communities. They help us question our assumptions, envision alternative futures, and inspire us to work toward the future we need.
We are aiming to make award space for Artist Disruptors from the Central Valley, Migrant Justice Disruptors, Disability Justice, and Formerly Incarcerated Artists. We would like these groups to push forward their projects so that we may showcase their causes, communities, and resource their ecosystems. We believe this investment can strengthen the fabric of cultural change by placing these communities front and center.
PROGRAM ASPIRATIONS
Funds from this award are unrestricted with the expectation that the proposed project is completed in the project period and there is documentation of the final project that can be shared with the Center for Cultural Power.
KEY DATES
Application Opens: August 7th
Last day to submit questions: September 22nd, 3:00PM PST
Application deadline: September 22nd, 11:59PM PST
Application Review: September 25th to October 9th
Award Announcement: October 11th
Project Period: October 2023 - August 2024
ELIGIBILITY
- Applications are open to all Artist Disruptors and/or Culture Bearers, regardless of immigration status, that are at least 18 years of age and are a resident of California.
- Artist Disruptors and/or Culture Bearers must live or work in one of the California HPI 25% Quartile zip codes listed in this spreadsheet. To see if your zip code is eligible use the “search function” (macOS: ⌘+f / windowsOS: ctrl+shift+f) and type your zip code. If the zip code appears, it is eligible.
- If the applicant does not live in the California HPI 25% Quartile zip codes, their application must demonstrate experience collaborating with the communities within the California HPI 25% Quartile zip codes.
- Proposed projects must address at least one of the four state-mandated focus areas:
- Public health awareness messages to stop the spread of COVID-19
- Public awareness related to water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery
- Civic engagement, including election participation
- Social justice and community engagement
Projects that do not meet the above eligibility requirements will be disqualified.
APPLICATION & SCORE CRITERIA
Applications can be submitted through our online form or phone submission.
Applications submitted through our online form can be written (500 word maximum), audio and/or video (2 minute maximum) responses.
If you are submitting video responses, please upload each video response to Youtube as "Unlisted" and add the link in the corresponding response area of the question.
All applications will be reviewed by a community panel of at least three people.
|
Question or Prompt |
Points Possible |
|
Provide a biography or tell us about yourself and your work. Tell us who you are and what has influenced you as a Culture Bearer and/or as an Artist Disruptor. Describe how many years you have been engaged in your practice and the medium(s) you work in. |
10 |
|
What is your proposed project? Tell us if this is a new or existing project. Describe the elements of your project (e.g. where does it take place, how will others interact with your project, does your project involve community, how does your impact the senses, etc.). Provide a timeline for completing your project. |
20 |
|
What impact do you anticipate your project will have upon you and/or your community? Describe how the creation and completion of your project will impact your life and those around you. Tell us the ways community may come into contact with your work and what you hope the outcome of that interaction will be. |
20 |
|
Which CAC focus area does your project align with? Describe how your project aligns with the focus area. CAC focus areas:
|
20 |
|
Describe how these funds can support you to complete your proposed project. Provide details on how and why it is important that we fund you. Your do not need to submit a budget. We want to understand why you need these funds. Examples: funds help you cover living expenses, hire contractors, venue rental, equipment purchases, etc. |
20 |
|
Provide at least three work samples of past or current projects that give the evaluators a sense of your work. |
10 |
|
Total Points Possible |
100 |
Application reviewers will use the following scale to assist with the scoring process. Only the top 30 highest scoring applications will be awarded.
|
100-90% |
|
|
89-80% |
|
|
79-70% |
|
|
69% and below |
|
POST AWARD EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Throughout the project period from October 2023 to October 2024, the awardees will be expected to utilize the award for their personal sustainability and to advance the proposed project.
The following are requirements that must be fulfilled by the awardees in a timely manner as outlined by the program manager:
- Sign an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU);
- Submit Invoice & W9.
- Be fully present and available for the cohort orientation, mid-point check-in, and final check-in.
Optional but highly recommended: Awardees will have the option to attend any available Artist Leadership workshops, our workshop series, and the Creative Entrepreneur workshop series for their professional development. As opportunities become available, this information will be communicated to the awardee by the program manager.
APPLICATIONS
Strand 1: Culture Bearers Application Link
Strand 2: Artist Disruptor Application Link
QUESTIONS
Questions can be submitted via an online form. A public FAQ document will be updated weekly every Monday to respond to questions received. Individual responses to questions will be limited.
