Give an Arts Plate For Valentine's Day!
Show your sweetheart you're an arts lover -- and get a tax deduction too

Valentine's Day is only days away -- be an Arts Lover and get your sweetie a California Arts License Plate. The cost is now considered a charitable deduction for tax purposes, and the California Arts Council has a special pre-made Arts Plate Valentine Card ready to print. SEE MORE

Creating Public Value application now available; deadline extended to Feb 18
Program supports arts projects in rural and underserved communities

The California Arts Council is pleased to announce the availability of its Creating Public Value Program (CPV) application. Deadline has recently been extended to February 18, 2010.

Statewide Networks Program Application Available; Deadline March 8
Program supports statewide and regional arts networks and service organizations

The California Arts Council is pleased to announce the availability of its Statewide Networks Program application. Deadline is March 8, 2010. Statewide Networks is a California Arts Council partnership with culturally specific, multicultural, and discipline-based statewide and regional arts networks and service organizations. Its goal is to promote the public value of the arts in communities by supporting new approaches or expansion to an organization's work in the areas of organizational capacity and community building through advocacy. SEE APPLICATION

Artists in Schools Program Application Available; Deadline March 18
Program supports partnerships between K-12 schools and non-profit arts organizations

The California Arts Council is pleased to announce the availability of its Artists in Schools Program application. Deadline is March 18, 2010. The Artists in Schools Program encourages partnerships between schools and arts organizations to deliver long-term, in-depth arts residencies. The program goal is to assist the educational community in delivering standards-based instruction in classrooms throughout California. SEE APPLICATION

The California Arts Council announces agency's American Recovery & Reinvestment Act grants
Twenty-nine arts organizations statewide slated to receive funding for jobs

The California Arts Council announces that twenty-nine organizations throughout the state are approved to receive funding for jobs through the agency's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. The Council approved the spending of  $487,900 in job stimulus funds earlier this month. Other California arts organizations are approved to receive funding directly from the National Endowment for the Arts, regional, or local arts re-granting organizations.

California Arts Council Announces Arts License Plate Fees Are Now Charitable Deductions
Launches Goal of One Million New Arts License Plates On California Cars
Funds Will Take California to Top in Arts Programming Funding

A recent clarification from a state tax agency could be a significant boon for the arts in the state. California Arts License Plate fees are charitable deductions to the State of California for tax purposes, according to the Franchise Tax Board. The clarification comes just in time for the holidays and end-of-year charitable planning and serves as a platform to launch a goal of affixing one million new arts plates to California cars.

"Creative California" scores near the top in study examining arts-related economy
California scores third highest in Creative Vitality Index, a report examining creative for-profit and non-profit economy

California has the third highest Creative Vitality Index (CVI) score in the nation for both 2006 and 2007, according to a study that measures the annual changes in the economic health of an area's creative sector and includes both for-profit and nonprofit activities. Only New York and Massachusetts scored higher than the Golden State. 

California Arts Council's State-Local Partnership Program intends to award technical assistance contract to The Culture + Planning Group

The California Arts Council's State-Local Partnership Program intends to award a technical-assistance contract to The Cultural + Planning Group to further the development of 14 California county arts agencies. The agency intends to award the contract on February 9, 2010. The final day to comment or protest this award is February 6, 2010. Questions and comments should be addressed to Rob Lautz, State-Local Partnership Program specialist, at 916-324-6617 or rlautz@cac.ca.gov. SEE NOTICE.