Grants for Sonoma artists

Creative Sonoma, a division of Sonoma County’s Economic Development Board, is offering a new series of grants in continued support of Sonoma County artists who were affected by the wildfires in 2017. The Individual Professional Advancement Grant (IPAG), established with the support of the California Arts Council, will allocate up to $5,000 each to artists to help reestablish their careers.

In the wake of the 2017 fires, Creative Sonoma offered Fire Relief and Response grants to artists for their immediate recovery needs. The purpose of the new IPAG program is to build upon that initial round of grants – this time to support artists in moving their careers forward. Funds from the IPAG can be used for activities that advance the artist’s ability to make, sell, exhibit, distribute or otherwise share his or her creative work.

“We recognize the vital role that our creative community played after the fires and its contributions to our collective healing,” said County Supervisor James Gore, in a press release announcing the grants. “These grants help ensure that Sonoma County will continue to be a place that embraces its creative heritage and proactively supports its artistic future.”

Examples of eligible activities for the grants include costs associated with: production, supplies and any material related to creation of artworks, products or services; promotion, distribution or exhibition including entry fees for juried shows, shipping costs, recording and publishing; and professional development including workshop and/or conference fees, in-state travel expenses and consulting fees.

The grant application is open to full-time residents of Sonoma County, age 18 and older, who can document at least five years of creative experience, financial need and physical loss due to the 2017 wildfires. An application workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Creative Sonoma offices at 141 Stony Circle, Suite 110, Santa Rosa. The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 14. For guidelines detailing eligibility, and to apply, go to: www.creativesonoma.org/ipag.