The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is pleased to announce the annual opportunity of Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency (NEAR) grants for freelance teaching-artists who will initiate partnerships with community-based host organizations that are arts-friendly (but not arts-focused). Re-opening along with the NEAR grant program is the complementary Creative Optimism – Uplifting Promises (CO-UP) grant program for nonprofit social justice organizations (in any type of human-justice field) to invite teaching-artists who will add value to social justice programs. With NEAR and CO-UP grants, DCA aims to bring cultural services to spaces in the city where the arts are absent or scarce, while providing job support for freelance Los Angeles artists who collaborate with arts-friendly but non-arts focused host organizations.
As in prior years, DCA remains committed to supporting the most competitive NEAR and CO-UP projects in each City council district, with a concurrent desire to support more projects in neighborhoods of LA that are “arts-underserved” where there are fewer traditional art venues and fewer opportunities fostered by arts-specific nonprofit groups.
Both NEAR and CO-UP grants will support multi-week, interactive projects to take place between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 that will stimulate: community dialogue, life-long learning opportunities for the public, and the availability of interesting free or low-cost creative activities that occur outside of traditional arts agencies and venues. NEAR/CO-UP projects must be structured to provide a series of at least 11 participatory workshop sessions consistently attended 20 individuals and culminate in at least one presentation that is promoted to the general public, generating an audience of 40 or more people. If necessary, for space consideration, CO-UP applicants should secure a third partner, acting as a co-host site (for example dance classes may need to culminate at a neighborhood high school auditorium to allow for broad public attendance).
More artists call Los Angeles home than any other city in the United States. This mighty workforce fuels the cultural vitality of L.A.’s regional economy by fostering a cityscape of creative products /experiences, leisure attractions, and social opportunities. Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary community and for showing DCA your latest ideas and forecasts within highly competitive proposals. Applications are due online by Friday, October 25, 2024 at 11:59 PM.
Mouna Benbouazza, Arts Associate
Ben Espinosa, Arts Manager
Brenda Slaughter Reynolds, Arts Associate
Joe Smoke, Grants Administration Director