Established by the State of California in 1976, the California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all.
The Folk and Traditional Arts (FTA) grant program aims to support statewide and regional arts expressions by funding Administering Organizations (AOs) capable of regranting funds, providing technical assistance, and building capacity among artists and arts organizations. The program covers a wide array of traditional expressions, including crafts, music, dance, ritual, and other technical skills. It focuses on directly working with artists to foster community engagement and promote cultural traditions. AOs are tasked with developing and administering FTA grants, ensuring diverse representation of applicants, and managing implementation and reporting responsibilities. The program offers up to $1,000,000 per year for two years to cover various costs, including program design, implementation, and staff salaries, with a stipulation that funding is contingent upon the availability of state budget allocations.