In August 2022, KDA was awarded a $4.2 million grant by the California Arts Council to administer the California Creative Corps in Central and Eastern California. With the release of the KDA Creative Corps (KDACC) program guidelines and timeline, the window opened for individuals and organizations to apply for grant funding in the spring of 2023.
KDACC announced the inaugural grant recipients on May 1, 2023 and has spent the last year investing these funds into programs in 14 Central Valley communities, including Kern County, that will improve the quality of life for those living in the lowest quartile of the California Healthy Places Index through the arts.
The California Creative Corps is a pilot program designed to promote community and civic engagement, spread awareness about water and energy conservation, climate change, emergency preparedness, relief and recovery through the arts. Thirteen organizations, including KDA, were selected statewide to regrant funds in their region to arts and social service organizations, individual artists, and cultural workers.
The $4.2 million California Arts Council grant has been completely dispersed and used exclusively for the regranting and administering of the KDACC. The funding has not been used to fund KDA’s existing programs which continue to operate alongside the KDACC. KDA continues to need funding and community support to meet its daily and annual operating expenses.
KDACC released its interim report in February 2024 outlining the program’s impacts since its inception in October 2022. READ THE FULL REPORT HERE.
KDACC released its final report in December 2024 outlining the program’s impacts since its inception in October 2022. READ THE FULL REPORT HERE.
Learn more at www.KDACreativeCorps.org.
The KDA Creative Corps (KDACC) released its Final Report, marking the successful conclusion of a transformative $4.2 million pilot program funded by the California Arts Council. Since its inception in October 2022, KDACC has created significant job opportunities and engaged artists and cultural workers in public service projects that enhance the quality of life across the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra regions.
“As a pilot initiative, KDACC achieved extraordinary results in just a short time,” said Andrea Hansen, KDACC Program Director. “This program has fostered economic growth and brought creative voices to the forefront of regional development. Our original target was 571 jobs, but KDACC-funded projects created 972 positions, well beyond our expectations.”
Key Highlights of the KDACC Final Report
The KDACC initiative has made a meaningful impact across 14 counties and 154 zip codes, covering 46,217 square miles in underserved regions of California. Some of the major highlights of the report include:
~ Job Creation and Workforce Hours: The KDACC projects generated over 972 jobs, equating to an impressive 60,605 workforce hours. This job creation has provided critical economic support to Central California’s creative sector, allowing artists and cultural workers to contribute substantially to their communities.
~ Economic Impact and Regional Reach: With $4.2 million allocated to support diverse projects across the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra, KDACC made a lasting impact across historically underfunded areas, including Kern, Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties. These projects have reached communities within the lowest quartiles of the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), bringing investment and visibility to regions with traditionally limited access to arts funding.
~ Empowering Underrepresented Populations: KDACC specifically focused on programs that engaged vulnerable groups, such as incarcerated youth, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, elderly residents, the unhoused, LGBTQI+ communities and Indigenous tribes. By providing new platforms for creative expression, these projects have empowered diverse groups and fostered greater inclusivity in California’s arts landscape.
~ Enhanced Civic Engagement: KDACC-funded projects have spurred greater civic engagement and public service involvement through the arts. The program has strengthened social bonds by connecting artists with local communities and contributed to improved public health, mental well-being and civic pride.
“KDACC has shown the immense potential of the creative economy to drive regional growth and community well-being,” said Jim Damian, Kern County’s Chief Economic Development Officer. “This initiative highlights the importance of sustained investment in our local artists, whose work beautifies our communities and uplifts the spirits of our residents.”
California’s creative workforce is pivotal in community transformation, and KDACC exemplifies this impact. Congressman Rep. Vince Fong, representing (CA-20), praised the initiative, stating, “KDACC’s support for the arts in our community has helped create jobs and spurred economic opportunities. With their involvement, we are revitalizing our local arts industry to grow our economy.”
