Proposed Pop-ups and Festival-style projects should address the Arts and Social Wellness (ASW) and the International Festivals and Intercultural Foods (IFIF) themes supported under PAF.
ASW is intended for project activations with community-relevant themes that bridge the arts with science, nature, environmental goodness and justice, community wellness and health, and social justice and equity. Activities may include live performances, temporary banners or murals, vigils, etc.
IFIF is geared towards supporting projects celebrating multi-cultural themes and promoting opportunities for cross-cultural learning. Projects within this category include community picnics, food-truck festivals, farmers market activations, cultural performances or celebrations, outdoor festivals. It is important to note that city funding cannot be used for free food/beverage distribution and therefore, in order to consume food at IFIF events, there must be purchasable tickets/direct purchasing under their own liability for health and safety or food/beverage must be paid for/donated by a non-city entity. Be sure to refer to the Funding Uses section in Getting Started for more information.
All activities should take place at a range of street-adjacent, family-friendly spaces such as: farmers markets, public parks, school yards, parking lots, and other publicly accessible outdoor spaces. The distribution of free brochures, recipes, resources, guides, and other small take-away items is always encouraged.
In the case that your project aligns with both ASW and IFIF, the introductory call with our team will help to direct you on the best path. Before applying, we strongly encourage you to email DCA Grants Staff (Sarena.Khasawneh@LACity.org) to outline your proposed idea.
Once determining the theme of your project and which category-theme it most aligns with, you will consider the production, scale, and intended impact of your project to select between Pop-up or Festival.
Pop-up Projects
Pop-up projects (such as cultural celebrations, creative engagements/workshops, unveiling of temporary installations such as vinyl murals) proposed by a team of local artists and cultural workers who live and/or work in the neighborhood of the proposed project. Pop-up proposals should draw attention to relevant themes or topics and be planned in alliance with one or more local neighborhood associations. All Pop-up projects must be able to garner an audience of at least 300 people. Maximum project funding varies by council district (link to map), and ranges from $5,000-$15,000. Projects should pay fees of at least $100/artist to ten (10) or more artists/ensembles (with 50% living or working in the neighborhood-area).
Festival Projects
Festival-style projects (such as art walks or street fairs) should enliven an outdoor corridor (such as a non-primary street spanning one block or more) while collaborating with local partners and neighborhood businesses to further local economic and cultural development. All Festival-style projects must show the ability to garner an audience of more than 1,000 persons. Applicants applying for Festival funding must showcase a proven track record of success hosting events of this scale and applicants who have not, are strongly encouraged to apply for a Pop-Up event as a proof of concept for their first year in the PAF program and progressing to Festival the next cycle. Maximum project funding varies by council district (link to map), and ranges from $7,500-$20,000. Projects should pay fees of at least $100/artist to ten (10) or more artists/ensembles (with 50% living or working in the neighborhood-area).
Pop-up and Festival applicants must be: Los Angeles County-based artists, artist groups/collectives (applying under the name of a single creative leader), limited partnerships, commercial businesses, or nonprofit organizations that do not currently have an active grant contract with DCA. Priority is given to applicants that are headquartered in the same City council district as their proposed project. Parties who currently have a grant contract with DCA cannot apply, however such groups/organizations may collaborate in proposed projects as a named vendor or producing agent in a proposal submitted by an eligible lead applicant.
Applicants for both Pop-up and Festival projects are required to give the exact address of their project or a range of addresses if relevant (example: a block party that runs from 2000 to 2100 on X Street). A second requirement is the inclusion of two letters of support: one must be from the site owner/operator (e.g. the operator of a particular plaza, Parks Department, etc.). Projects without a letter of support from the space operator cannot be approved. Each applicant’s second letter of support should demonstrate a partnership or alliance with at least one neighborhood group in the same jurisdiction. Hence, applicants should be discussing/planning their project ideas with neighborhood groups and businesses (e.g. neighborhood councils, business improvements district associations, local chambers of commerce) and/or the City Council Office of the jurisdiction. Applicants should not be proposing any “surprises”. Please be as clear as possible about your event in your proposal submission.
- Read PAF guidelines across this website and select the project category that best aligns with your project.
- View the DCA Council District Map (Link) to identify where your project is located. You should have a strong personal connection to the location (live or work). Funding priority will be given to projects where there are no arts and cultural sites within a 0.5 – 1 mi radius near the proposed site.
- Email our Grants Coordinator (sarena.khasawneh@lacity.org) to set up an appointment and begin the application coaching process. Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- Could you demonstrate support from at least 2 or 3 of the following: Site operator, City council member’s office, local businesses, community groups, and/or the neighborhood council? A written letter of support from a partnering venue operator/business will eventually be needed to submit the application.
- Could you share the desired outcome of your event in terms of: neighborhood character, cultural expression, community pride and/or future possibilities?
- Could you tell us how your project demonstrates collaborative thinking and planning, and presents a relevant theme to stimulate community engagement?
- Are you able to provide the names and live/work addresses of at least ten (10) or more artists (e.g. architects, chefs, craft makers, designers, dancers, media-makers, musicians, spoken-word artists — at least 50% of whom are based in the neighborhood where you plan to produce your event) who could be employed or engaged by the proposed project as fabricators of objects, presenters/performers, curators, and/or educators?
- Are you proposing a concept or project which can attract an audience or attendees and passersby of at least 300 people for Pop-ups and 1,000 people for Festivals?
- Begin your Application. Make an account on Slideroom and explore the application components (Application Link Provided Upon Opening). Draft and submit your proposal. Proposals are considered on a rolling basis, and should be submitted by the first Thursday of every month for consideration for that month’s funding cycle. Applicants should apply 3-5 months out from their event. Note the grant will close for the 2025-2026 year after the first Thursday of July 2026.
- Wait for review.
- During first-level review of projects, eligibility and competitiveness are determined by panelists from DCA’s Senior Staff and community experts. Proposals will be scored based on four criteria valued at five points each (total of 20 points):
- Community relevant topics or themes and proposed impact in terms of number and type of persons served – 5 pts
- Projects ideas and/or innovation – 5 pts
- Feasible timeline and realistic budget – 5pts
- Community partnerships and/or alliances demonstrated with letters of support – 5 pts
- If your proposal is deemed ineligible or incomplete in first-level review, you will be given constructive feedback and offered an opportunity to reapply for a modified project. Projects which are deemed uncompetitive will also be given brief feedback as to the reasons that the project is not compatible with this program.
- If you are accepted, you will then need to make and present a short, 5-minute pitch presentation with slides to the Cultural Affairs Commissioners before receiving final funding approval (minor changes are allowed between acceptance and approval if the peer review process results in mandatory-adjustments being recommended).
- The Cultural Affairs Commission is a DCA advisory council appointed by the Mayor that meets on the second Wednesday of every month. The Commission will ask applicants questions about community intentions, connectivity, and quality in regards to their proposed event. If the applicant is unprepared to answer questions or scale back the budget of the project, then the Commission may ask the applicant to return to the following Commission meeting (usually one month later) and re-present the project with greater clarity. Upon approval from the CAC, projects will then be recommended to the General Manager, who has ultimate authority on project funding.
- If your proposal is declined at any stage, consider reaching out to DCA staff for feedback and coaching. You are welcome to resubmit your proposal idea upwards of 3 times if needed.
- Approximately 15 days after General Manager approval, applicants may begin PAF contracting through our DCA-appointed local business incubator agency, Community Partners, that will outline their “umbrella” services to: a) collect data, receipts, invoices, and reports, b) provide financial oversight and bookkeeping, c) guarantee event insurance, and d) act as an enterprise adviser if the applicant is proposing an endeavor intended to become the mission of a sustainable business entity. This process will be initiated by DCA staff upon GM approval.