CALI Futures 2026
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PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Launched in 2026, CALI Futures (the “Fund”) supports artists and cultural workers across California–individually and in teams–who are meaningfully contributing to alternative efforts outside of conventional nonprofit and for-profit arts and culture systems that have not worked for everyone. This Fund encourages those working in alternative efforts focused on income, ownership, and care, and uplifts the role of artists and cultural workers in shaping and sustaining these efforts. By supporting alternative efforts operating at systemic levels to provide greater financial stability, strengthen creative ownership, and deepen connections to each other, CALI Futures supports the work that makes thriving conditions more possible for the broader arts ecosystem.
CALI Futures provides project-restricted grants of up to $5,000 to artists and cultural workers who are contributing to alternative efforts that hold promise for greater sustainability, sense of belonging, and self-determination than current conventional systems offer. Competitive applicants will present (a) a clear project request; (b) proof of an active, current artistic or cultural practice; (c) a description of the applicant’s contribution to furthering an alternative effort that improves financial sustainability, creative ownership, or mutual support, and addresses challenges not sufficiently solved by conventional nonprofit or for-profit sectors; and (d) framing that ambitiously describes the larger implications that this alternative work can have on transforming artists’ lives and the artistic and cultural possibilities of the future. The Fund supports individuals and teams at every stage, from initial ideas and early concepts to research, implementation, experimentation, and reflection. A total of $100,000 in funding will be available each year across the 2026–2028 funding cycle.
Please visit the CALI Futures webpage to review the Application Preview (.doc and .pdf versions), Grant Guidelines, Example of Competitive Applicants, and Frequently Asked Questions.
ELIGIBILITY
CALI Futures applicants can be individuals or teams of individuals. For those applying as a team, all team members must also meet the following criteria; this is to ensure that funding supports the intended population. To be eligible for funding consideration:
- Applicants must be individual artists or cultural workers (e.g., cultural producers, culture bearers, creatives, cultural practitioners);
- Artists (a person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as visual artists, craft, poets, musicians, dancers, media artists, sculptors, filmmakers, etc.); or
- Cultural Workers (a person who is continuing to keep a cultural identity and/or tradition alive and thriving).
- Applicants (including all team members) must reside full-time in California;
- Applicants must be contributing to an alternative effort that improves the financial sustainability, creative ownership, fosters mutualistic social support, or other beneficial outcomes within the arts and culture sector; and
- Applicants’ contribution to an alternative effort must have occurred or begun (i.e., the involvement is still in progress) on or after January 1, 2020.
Note: Only one application will be accepted per team (i.e., individual team members cannot submit separate applications that describe the same project). Teams will therefore need to select a single team member to apply, and if funding is approved, this individual will be responsible for fulfilling the grant requirements. Review the Frequently Asked Questions for more details.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications will be accepted online from June 9 - August 28, 2026, and all applicants will be notified about their funding status on November 17, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. PT. Complete applications must be submitted by the deadline—no exceptions will be made. In addition, applications with missing or inaccessible content (e.g., corrupted or password-protected files) will not be reviewed.
Only one application will be accepted per team (i.e., individual team member (include C in the subject line) or call 415.288.0530 for assistance. You may also schedule a time to speak he application. Information about the other team members will be collected in the application.
QUESTIONS & SUPPORT
CCI staff are here to help and listen. Please email us at grants@cciarts.org (include CALI Futures in the subject line) or call 415.288.0530 for assistance. You may also schedule a time to speak here. For Deaf applicants and those with hearing loss, contact CCI using the California Relay Service—our staff is trained in making and receiving these calls.
If you need technical assistance (e.g., password or upload issues), request support at: https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter. Submittable’s business hours are 9 am – 5 pm MT. They aim to respond within 24 business hours.