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Submit a proposal for a temporary, site-related creative project in LA public spaces to activate underserved neighborhoods through community engagement.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →The Public-Space Activation Fund (PAF) supports temporary creative engagements at publicly accessible outdoor spaces in Los Angeles neighborhoods where the arts are currently absent or scarce. PAF is a monthly funding opportunity supporting new ideas, pop-up concepts, and start-up projects needing outside capital to launch or lift.
Eligible applicants are Los Angeles-based community entrepreneurs including artists, cultural activists, collectives, neighborhood businesses, nonprofit organizations, and collaborative pairings under stewardship of one lead-agent. All applicants must have a strong connection (place of work or residence) to the proposed project site and provide the exact address and a letter of support from the site's venue owner/operator. Priority is given to projects in arts-underserved LA City council districts.
Grants range from $600 to $45,000 based on project category, geographic location, and complexity. PAF includes four categories: Neighborhood Expressions ($600–$1,200 for individual artists), Arts and Social Wellness ($7,500–$10,000), International Festivals & Intercultural Foods ($7,500–$10,000), and International Participation And Promotion Projects.
Eligible projects include community picnics, outdoor festivals, pop-up performance events, outdoor food/food-truck festivals, temporary banners/vinyl murals, candlelight vigils, live performances, and community-relevant mini-festivals.
Applicants should submit applications 3 to 5 months in advance of their proposed event date. All planning, development, and implementation should be feasibly coordinated within this production timeline. Applications are generally reviewed within approximately 20 business days.
In partnership with Community Partners, a local business incubator agency, grantees receive enterprise advising and intermediary services to promote capacity building and sustainability.
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.
For questions or to discuss project eligibility before submitting, contact Sarena Khasawneh ([email protected]), the primary PAF contact. Additional contacts: Haley Roeser ([email protected]) and Ben Espinosa ([email protected]).