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$1.5 million in grants has been announced for artists and small arts nonprofits in Oakland, California.

As a response to the financial impact of COVID-19 on artists and nonprofit arts organisations, The City of Oakland has launched a new initiative titled CARES Fund for Artists and Arts Nonprofits (CARES Arts Fund).

Through a partnership between City of Oakland’s Economic Workforce Development Department, Cultural Affairs Division, and the Center for Cultural Innovations, CARES Arts Fund will provide $1,425,000 in grants of up to $3,000 for individual artists, and grants of up to $20,000 for small arts nonprofits.

To apply, artists must be a full time resident in Oakland, and make their primary income as freelancers or employees in any of the arts sectors, including literary, visual, teaching artists, and musicians. The application cycle opened on Monday this week (21st), and will close on Friday the 9th October, at 1PM PDT. Artists and organisations will be notified the status of their applications at the end of October, but grant payments will take until mid-November to arrive.

You can find out more about the CARES Arts Fund here.

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