The mission of the funder, involved with the Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative (CEII), aims to increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the arts for all LA County residents. It focuses on improving representation and inclusiveness across Boards of Directors, Staffing, Audience/Participants, Programming, and Artists/Creators, ensuring every individual has the opportunity for creative expression, engages in meaningful arts and culture, and capitalizes on the community's diversity for a richer cultural and economic environment. The initiative promotes mutual respect and understanding through inclusive community arts and culture.
The Organizational Grant Program (OGP) aims to support Los Angeles County nonprofit arts organizations in providing cultural services that are crucial for the diverse communities within the area. The grants, which span two years, are designed to back arts organizations that offer significant benefits to residents, neighborhoods, and communities through direct access and opportunities for engaging in quality arts activities and programming. These programs are often either free or offered at a low cost. The grant covers a variety of project categories and supports events or activities that include, but are not limited to, operating activities with a defined purpose. Projects eligible for funding can range from single short-term events, like a dance festival, to components of an organization's operations such as securing rehearsal space, marketing, paying artists, and other associated activities. Applicants can seek funding for any phase of a project, from planning to implementation, with the possibility of requesting support for different activities across the two years. The OGP does not restrict applications to new projects; ongoing ones are equally considered. Moreover, the projects submitted do not have to cater to large audiences, as the Department of Arts and Culture encourages applications for small projects that can make a meaningful impact within a community or field.