CONNECT with the CityIndividual Artist Fellowship (IAF) – Region 8
City of San Diego | California Arts Council
The City of San Diego invites applications from eligible individual artists for the Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF), which provides unrestricted awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. The California Arts Council (CAC) has selected the City as an Administering Organization for this statewide initiative, supporting a two-year fellowship program for individual artists and culture bearers across all disciplines.
The Individual Artist Fellowship for Region 8 serves San Diego and Imperial Counties, an area spanning 9,008 square miles and home to 3.48 million residents. The program strengthens the regional arts workforce by investing directly in artists whose work contributes to the cultural vitality of their communities.
IAF uplifts and celebrates artists and cultural bearers across diverse communities, honoring artistic excellence, cultural leadership, and sustained contributions to both traditional and contemporary practices.
Program Benefits
Unrestricted Funding: Receive $5,000 (Emerging), $10,000 (Established), or $50,000 (Legacy) to support your creative practice without project restrictions.
Recognition of Excellence: Be recognized for your artistic vision and practice, with a platform to showcase your work in a public event or community presentation.
Professional Growth: Access opportunities for coaching, networking, storytelling, and professional development, while engaging with a vibrant community of fellow artists as a resource for inspiration, collaboration, and growth.
Community Impact: Join a regional cohort of fellows whose work reflects the diversity, leadership, and social impact of artists across San Diego and Imperial Counties, and become part of a larger network that fosters shared learning, creative exchange, and mutual support.
Applying
Application Link: https://sandiegoarts.fluxx.io/
Funded Fellowship Period: August 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027
Applications due by: April 30, 2026 11:59pm PDT Pacific Time
Fellowship Tiers
Emerging Artist Fellow – $5,000
Artists in the early stages of making work public and building community engagement.
Established Artist Fellow – $10,000
Artists with an ongoing public practice and demonstrated record of artistic and/or cultural impact.
Legacy Artist Fellow – $50,000
Artists with a significant body of work created over time that has deeply engaged communities and demonstrated sustained social impact, including mentorship of other artists.
Guidelines
Open House Schedule
| Imperial County – SDSU 3/24 • 4PM • 720 Heber Ave., Calexico, CA 92231 | Encanto – The Block Club 4/04 • 2:30PM • 6403 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92114 |
| Oceanside – Dear Tomorrow 3/25 • 5:30PM • 216 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054 | San Ysidro – El Salon Theatre 4/07 • 4:30PM • 114 West Hall Ave., San Ysidro, CA 92173 |
| Barrio Logan – WOO! Studios 3/26 • 6PM • 2212 Main St, San Diego, CA 92113 | Imperial County – City of Calipatria Council Chambers 4/16 • 4PM • 125 Park St, Calipatria, CA 92233 |
| Normal Heights – Burn All Books 4/01 • 5:30PM • 3131 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116 | Virtual Technical Assistance - Hosted by Catalyst Reoccurring Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82163245023 |
Virtual Technical Assistance - Hosted by City of San Diego https://sandiego.zoomgov.com/j/1612643487?pwd=0uabjN5w9TpAnJcVyY19bP8DMwXWOA.1 | Virtual Technical Assistance - Hosted by City of San Diego https://sandiego.zoomgov.com/j/1613287644?pwd=6B3L6uaSGcwABcLmsZybT1asRWNuTr.1 |
Virtual Technical Assistance - Hosted by Catalyst Reoccurring Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82163245023 |