Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency (NEAR) and Creative Optimism-Uplifting Promises (CO-UP) Grants (2026-27)

Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency (NEAR) grants support individual freelance teaching artists who serve as project-leaders to design and manage a series of community-relevant workshops that culminate in public, community presentations. Creative Optimism-Uplifting Promises (CO-UP) grants foster similar teaching artist led creative collaborations at social justice organizations throughout the city. In contrast to NEAR projects, a CO-UP proposal should be submitted by nonprofit social justice organizations who seek to employ a freelance teaching artist to carry out a project at a social justice organization. Grants for NEAR/CO-UP projects can range up to $12,000 or $15,000, and must take place in facilities that are *not* conventional arts spaces, such as product-design galleries, theater lobbies, museums, arts venues, etc. Nonprofit organizations with eligible outdoor festivals/parade projects are welcome to apply as part of an extended application window for the Cultural Grants Program. For more information, including eligibility requirements, program timelines, and application instructions, please review the guidelines available at the following link: https://culture.lacity.gov/grants/.

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