Creative Sonoma Announces New Fellowship Grant Program

Creative Sonoma, in collaboration with Kimzin Creative, a local arts and equity consulting group, is announcing a new fellowship grant program available for emerging to mid-career artists and culture workers who work within, on behalf of, or to support Sonoma County’s communities of color.

The Arts and Cultural Equity Fellowship Program (www.creativesonoma.org/ace-fellows/) exists to uplift and promote the artistic and economic advancement of six (6) arts and culture workers (Fellows) with funding, training, mentorship, and increased connection to the local arts and business communities. The application portal opens January 18, 2022 and the deadline for applications is March 1, 2022. 

A 2017 study by the Helicon Collaborative found that despite a greater awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion issues in the nonprofit cultural sector, funding is getting less equitable and that the inequities are systemic.  “We are actively working to remove barriers within the arts and culture sector and support our historically marginalized communities which has led to the creation of this program,” said Supervisor James Gore, Chair of the Board of Supervisors.

Program co-facilitator Nikko Kimzin added, “This program is meant to honor, celebrate, and create community around uplifting our local arts and culture workers as we invite them to bring their full selves to the table.”

The fellowship program will provide $5,000 in grant funding and an additional $1,250 training stipend to support cultural art works, activities, events, and professional development opportunities that promote and celebrate the diverse racial and ethnic individuals and communities within Sonoma County. Successful applicants will demonstrate potential impact on their creative careers and how that might advance communities of color and other traditionally marginalized communities.

For more information, please contact Samantha Kimpel, Samantha.kimpel@sonoma-county.org.  For a copy of the full report by the Helicon Collaborative, go to http://www.notjustmoney.us/.