Administering Organization — Individual Artists Fellowship

Overview

The California Arts Council (CAC) administers the Individual Artists Fellowship (IAF) program through regionally based Administering Organizations (AOs), supporting individual California artists across all disciplines and traditions.

Fellowship Tiers & Awards

• CAC Emerging Artist Fellows – $5,000 (artists in beginning stages of making their work public)
• CAC Established Artist Fellows – $10,000 (artists who regularly make their work public and engage the larger community)
• CAC Legacy Artist Fellows – $50,000 (artists with significant body of work produced over substantial time with social impact)

Eligibility

Individual artists must live in California and apply to the region serving their county. Artists may submit an application to only one region.

Regional Administering Organization Example

• Kala Art Institute serves Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma
• Application Open: April 2, 2026
• Application Close: June 5, 2026
• Fellowship Period: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027

Additional Region

• KDA Central Valley & Sierra counties: Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne
• Application Open: May 1, 2026
• Application Close: June 12, 2026
• Fellowship Period: August 1, 2026 – August 1, 2027

Program Support

Administering Organizations provide outreach, marketing, info sessions, and technical assistance. Fellows receive support including exhibition, performance, and public program opportunities to raise visibility of their work.

Contact