In a move that is sure to invigorate the local arts scene, Sacramento is doling out some serious cash to its creatives. The City of Sacramento has rolled out $2.04 million in fellowships to a troop of 200 artists chosen through the Creative Growth Fellowship program. With more than 800 applicants throwing their hats into the ring, only a fraction could snag the funding, but those who did are now looking at a smoother road ahead.
Each artist will be riding the gravy train with $850 a month for a whole year, courtesy of the City’s Office of Arts and Culture. As reported by Sacramento City Express, Melissa Cirone, the City’s grants program manager, seemed stoked about the program's success, stating, "We were overwhelmed by the response to this program, with more than 800 applications submitted," and highlighting "the richness and variety of artists in our community."
This Creative Growth Fellowship isn’t just an act of charity; it's a strategic play. It’s funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars aimed at reviving the creative sector after its COVID-19 battering. The generosity kicked off last October when the Sacramento City Council whipped up the Creative Growth Support Fund.
The lucky 200 reflect Sacramento’s melting pot of artistry, with a diverse palette ranging from painters to playwrights, dancers to designers. According to Sacramento City Express, an independent panel brought their brains together to chop the list down, scoring each based on their commitment to practice, artistic merit, and the benefit to the public.
