Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship

Modoc County Arts Council

Upstate Individual Artist Fellowship Website

Grant Guidelines

Application Questions

FAQ

Glossary of Terms

Upstate Individual Artist Fellowship Website

Helpful Information to Apply

The Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship will regrant $240,000 among California-based individual artist and culture bearers. As the Administering Organization, Nevada County Arts & Culture will manage the application, review process, and professional development for this region.

The Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship provides unrestricted funding and state-wide recognition to California artists and culture bearers at key moments in their careers, elevating their capacity for continued contributions to the field and our state. Fellowships will be awarded based on artists’ creative vision, aesthetic excellence, and community engagement and social impact.

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Tiers
The Emerging Tier ($5,000)
recognizes that "Emerging" is about the stage of your practice, not how long you’ve been on this earth. Whether you are self-taught, a formal apprentice, or a community-taught creator, this unrestricted grant is designed to help you take that next pivotal step in your career.

Who should apply?

Developing Practitioners: Artists and Culture Bearers who are in the early stages of their professional career.
Evolving Voices: Those with a budding record of exhibitions, performances, or community engagements who are ready to expand their reach.
Future Leaders: Creators rooted in the 19-county Upstate region who are committed to a long-term artistic or cultural practice.

Don’t wait for "someday." The time to invest in your practice is now.

The Established Tier ($10,000)
is designed for mid-career Artists and Culture Bearers who have moved beyond the emerging stage and are deeply integrated into the cultural fabric of Upstate California. Your work doesn't just express your vision—it uplifts social issues and sparks conversation. This unrestricted funding is a reinvestment in your vision and your voice.

Who should apply?

Experienced Practitioners: Artists and Culture Bearers with a consistent, multi-year history of public presentation, publication, or community leadership.
Social Impact Leaders: Those whose work effectively addresses social issues and creates communal meaning within their local or regional ecosystem.
Collaborators: Creators looking to engage with a regional peer-to-peer cohort to expand their professional network and development.

Your dedication shapes our region. Let this fellowship support the next chapter of your career.

The Legacy Artist Tier ($50,000)

recognizes those who have dedicated decades to the cultural vitality of the Upstate region. We are looking for Artists with a deep body of work and Culture Bearers who sustain our ancestral traditions—the keepers of ancestral knowledge, the mentors, and the pillars of artistic tradition.

Who should apply?

Artists: Creators with a lifelong commitment to their craft and a sustained influence on the Northern California arts ecosystem.
Culture Bearers: Practitioners dedicated to the stewardship and passing down of traditional rituals, languages, and community lifeways.
Those who have mentored the next generation of creators in the Upstate region.

Whether you are a contemporary painter, a community muralist, an indigenous weaver, or an oral historian, your legacy is the fabric of our region. Help us recognize the legends among us. Nominate a mentor or apply today.