|
Clockwise from top left: Arts in California Parks grantee Fern Street Circus. Photo from Fern Street Community Arts, Inc.; grantee Semillas Sociedad Civil, Anawakalmekak. Photo from Parks California; grantee Tahoe Truckee School of Music. Photo from Tahoe Truckee School of Music; and grantee Queer Surf. Photo from Queer Surf.
SACRAMENTO — California State Parks, the California Arts Council and Parks California today announced $2.8 million in grants to 33 organizations statewide as part of the Arts in California Parks partnership. The five-year pilot initiative has invested more than $8.2 million to support 94 organizations and more than 300 community arts events across California parks. The grants enable culture bearers, tribes and local and nonprofit organizations to create accessible community art experiences in parks, with the goal of fostering creativity, honoring cultural heritage and strengthening community connections. In 2025, nearly 79,000 people participated in Arts in California Parks events – with 40% of event participants visiting their local park for the first time.
This year, 33 organizations throughout California received grants ranging from $28,000 to $150,000, selected from more than 200 applicants. Projects reflect the diversity of California’s people and landscapes. Initiatives include large-scale performances, hands-on workshops and culturally focused installations, providing opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with the arts and connect with nature and local history. The new projects will begin this fall and continue through September 2027, offering free performances, workshops, cultural gatherings, public art installations and other experiences.
The Arts in California Parks grants expand access to the arts in outdoor spaces, supporting artists, California Native American tribes and local groups to help keep parks welcoming and inclusive as part of the Newsom Administration’s Outdoors for All initiative.
“California’s parks and public lands are for everyone, and the Outdoors for All Initiative is our commitment to ensuring that promise becomes a reality for every resident,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “Programs like Arts in California Parks expand opportunities for people of all backgrounds to engage with the outdoors in creative and meaningful ways. By integrating arts and culture into our public spaces, we’re not only breaking down barriers to access, but also enriching the experiences that connect Californians to nature, each other and the diverse stories of our state.”
“California’s parks are places where stories come alive and communities gather,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “Arts in California Parks does more than preserve our landscapes. It celebrates the diversity, creativity and history that make our public lands special, and invites every Californian to see themselves reflected in them.”
“At Parks California, we believe public lands are for everyone,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, CEO and president, Parks California. “At the heart of Arts in California Parks is connection and belonging. By supporting artists, culture bearers and communities, the program has and continues to help make every park a place where creativity flourishes and every visitor can feel welcome. We’re grateful for this partnership that has helped shape a future where arts and nature go hand in hand across the state.”
This new round of grants highlights the intersection of art, nature and well-being, from filmmaking challenges and Indigenous arts gatherings to immersive nighttime installations. Examples of funded projects include:
- In Sacramento Valley, Everywhere Science will launch “Davis Flash Film Festival,” a free filmmaking challenge. Over four weeks, participants of all ages will create short films, supported by free workshops. The project culminates in an outdoor film festival at Davis Central Park, with selected films screened and shared online.
- In San Mateo County, Sankofa Roots will present “Weaving with Wisdom” at Camp Jones Gulch, a weekend gathering of Native weavers, apprentice weavers and artists. In partnership with YMCA San Francisco and local culture bearers, the event celebrates Indigenous basketweaving through hands-on instruction, cultural programs and creation of a permanent community weaving installation.
- In Santa Barbara County, Wild at Dark will transform Isla Vista’s parks with immersive nighttime art. In collaboration with local partners, residents will join nature walks, photography and art workshops, culminating in a two-night installation that focuses on local ecosystems and deepens neighborhood connections.
- In Los Angeles, Homeboy Art Academy will lead a yearlong arts initiative with justice-impacted youth from Homeboy Industries’ Youth Reentry Center. Workshops in painting, textiles, movement, storytelling and ceremonial arts will take place in city parks. The project ends with a traveling outdoor exhibition of youth-created art reflecting healing and cultural identity.
- In San Diego County, Mesa Grande Indian Housing Authority will begin the first phase of “Hallyeyaaw Lane Park: Native Arts & Heritage Space”, a new cultural park on Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians land in Santa Ysabel. The project will build an interpretive trail and gathering space with Indigenous artists creating trail panels in Iipay and English. Community events, including basketweaving demonstrations, will strengthen connections to Indigenous knowledge, language and experiences.
To learn more about funded projects and upcoming events, visit Arts.Parks.ca.gov.
About Arts in California Parks Launched in 2024, Arts in California Parks was developed in partnership with California State Parks, the California Arts Council and Parks California. The program aligns with statewide initiatives including Outdoors for All which was signed into law in September 2026, and State Parks’ Reexamining Our Past Initiative. By leveraging public and private partnerships, the program increases access to the arts and reduces barriers for participation in parks. Through grants, Arts in California Parks supports culture bearers, tribes and local nonprofit organizations to create community art experiences that are accessible and inclusive.
|
