The California Arts Council Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief grant program provides relief funding to arts and cultural organizations that have experienced economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant supports the well-being of California’s cultural vitality by helping sustain a robust and diverse arts workforce and infrastructure. Funds may be used to support any eligible expenses associated with the general operations of an arts or cultural organization, including but not limited to rent, utilities, and staff salaries.  
  
In order to meet the CAC grant application deadline, the Contra Costa County Arts and Culture Commission applied for the CAC Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief Grant in 2021 and is requesting the Board of Supervisors to ratify the application of this grant. The Arts and Culture Commission received $28,500 in revenue from the CAC for grant activity period November 1, 2021 through October 31, 2022. With support from the CAC General Operating Relief Grant, the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County secured contracted services to support signature community programs and cultural planning efforts to promote equity.   
  
In FY 21-22, the CAC General Operating Relief Grant supported contracted services for signature community programs including the ABOUTFACE veterans painting program, Art Passages art exhibitions at the County Administration Building, Poetry Out Loud poem recitation contest for high school students, Commission-approved Youth Advisor service project, and the maintenance of the County's online Arts Directory and Arts Calendar. In addition, the General Operating Relief Grant funded the Arts and Culture Prospectus Project for the County and supported the development of the Arts and Culture Commission's Equity Statement.