LOS ANGELES – Artists and arts organizations in East Los Angeles County can apply for grants ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 through the Eastside Arts Initiative’s Fall 2025 grant cycle, which opened for applications July 31.
The program finances community-driven arts programming and projects in the Eastern L.A. County region. Applications are due Sept. 17 and must be submitted online at www.eastsideartsinitiative.org.
The Eastside Arts Initiative offers two grant cycles per each fiscal year to support local artists and nonprofit arts organizations. The grants target programming that draws on the region’s artistic talent and cultural diversity.
The initiative was established in 2015 at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, a county museum and Smithsonian Institute affiliate. The museum focuses on Mexican, Mexican American and Latino cultural influences through exhibitions, programming and educational experiences.
Since its founding, the Eastside Arts Initiative has distributed funding to dozens of artists and organizations across Eastern L.A. County communities including East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and surrounding areas. The program aims to strengthen the regional arts ecosystem by providing financial support for creative projects that engage local communities.
Previous grant recipients have used funding for diverse projects including community murals, theater productions, music festivals, art workshops and cultural celebrations. The initiative prioritizes projects that reflect the cultural heritage and contemporary experiences of Eastern L.A. County residents.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, founded in 2011, is a 40,000-square-foot facility in downtown Los Angeles houses permanent and rotating exhibitions alongside educational programming. The museum serves as the administrative home for the Eastside Arts Initiative’s grant program.
The museum’s mission connects directly to the grant program’s goals of supporting Latino and Mexican American artists and cultural programming. LA Plaza has established partnerships with community organizations, schools and cultural institutions throughout the region to expand access to arts programming.
Artists and organizations interested in applying can find application materials and program guidelines on the initiative’s website. The program requires applicants to demonstrate community engagement and artistic innovation in their proposed projects. Eligible applicants must be based in Eastern L.A. County or propose programming that directly serves Eastern L.A. County communities.
The grant review process involves arts professionals, community leaders and cultural experts who evaluate applications based on artistic merit, community impact and feasibility. Awards are typically announced several weeks after the application deadline.
