New grant program facilitates art-driven public service campaigns

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture is calling it the Central Coast Creative Corps (CCCC) Program.

"The individual artists fellowships are Hopi to uplift artists and cultural bearers at key career stages," said executive director Sarah York Rubin of Santa Barbara County.

Funded by the California Arts Council, the program is open to 501C3 nonprofits, tribal governments, and government agencies across the Central Coast Region. 

"I am blown away it is such a long time coming this grant is a game changer it brings nonprofits it brings businesses it brings organizations together to spread a common language to those community’s that have been marginalized," said local artist Kym Cochran of Santa Barbara.

The pilot program offers 23 awards of $140,000 for a variety of organizations.

"Essentially hero’s in the community’s and we’re looking for artists of all disciplines so culture bearers landscape music acting," said Rubin.

The goal of the program is to hire a local artist to develop art-driven campaigns.

"I’m so thankful for the funding and the California arts council to take a risk it’s about emergency preparedness it’s about civic engagement it’s about so many wonderful things," said Cochran.

The program invites everyone to create new approaches for understanding and caring for ourselves, each other, and the environment.

"My hope is arts is an economic driver it’s about the process it’s about getting more creative thinkers out there," said Rubin.

Applications are due by May 1, 2023. 

Guidlines and more information can be found here.

“Artists are change agents, helping us to imagine different perspectives and experiences through their work. By bringing artists to the community development table, this program invites everyone to create new approaches for understanding and caring for ourselves, each other, and the environment," said Rubin.

Free informational workshops about the program will be held on Mar. 29 and Apr. 13 and will be hosted by Hannah Rubalcava, the Grants and Contracts Manager for the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture.

Interested in learning more about the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture? Visit their website.