Frequently Asked Questions

Designation

General Partnership Questions

Government Partner Questions

Location of Partners

Eligibility

Adjudication

Program Goals/Design

Definitions

What is the designation period for the pilot cohort and the 2025 cohort?
The designation period for the original pilot program was five years, from 2017 to 2022, and recertified for an additional five-period in 2023. The Designation period of the 2025 Cultural District program is also five years. Note: Each grant activity period has different start dates.

What are the allowed grant match expenses (e.g., staff time, in-kind staff time)?
Allowed grant match expenses are as follows:

• Staff time funded directly (cash) — e.g., if you pay your staff through the grant, this counts as a legitimate cash match.

• In-kind staff time (non-cash) — In general, staff time does not qualify as an in-kind match unless it meets specific criteria:

  • It must be provided by a third-party (an individual or organization not funded by your grant),

  • The work must require specialized skill—such as professional consultant services, accounting, legal support, technical production, etc.—that would normally be purchased. For example, if a volunteer accountant donates their time to manage grant-related financial reporting, and you would have otherwise paid for those services, that contribution can be counted as an in-kind match.

  Volunteer or partner staff time from your own organization (e.g., your executive director donating hours) does not qualify as in-kind match.

  Only staff time from third-party contributors offering specialized services—independent individuals or firms not funded through the grant—can be counted, and even then, the time must be valued at a fair market rate.

  In summary, a cash match includes any payroll or expenses you pay out of pocket.

  An in-kind match is allowable only for third-party contributions of specialized staff services (e.g., pro bono legal, accounting, artist consultancy), properly documented and valued. Please ensure you work with your financial advisors to:

  • Provide a reasonable estimate of hours contributed,

  • Assign an appropriate hourly rate (often based on comparable roles or state volunteer value guidelines), and

  • Include a short explanation in your budget narrative noting that these volunteers directly supplement staffing needs. All match types must be reflected in your budget (matching funds table) and noted under the “Contributed” line in your revenue section, with brief explanation of the sources. If you’re unsure whether a contribution qualifies, consult your CAC Arts Program Specialist before applying.

What happens when the grant period ends? Is the designation still valid? Is there still connection with the CAC?
Like with all CAC grants, when the grant activity period ends, that is the formal end to the contractual agreement between the CAC and the grantee. Cultural District designation is set for a five-year term.

Can we submit a combination of districts in one proposal to not compete against each other if there is a coalition group working together?
No. Each application must be for one proposed district. Successful Cultural Districts will meet the program goals in a focused and specific manner. A Cultural District is generally understood as a well-defined geographic area with a high concentration of cultural resources and activities. There must be three partner organizations minimum to constitute the cultural district: a nonprofit arts organization, a unit of local government, and a business or community development organization.

Can a nonprofit 501(c)(6) business association be the lead applicant?
No, the CAC can only make grants to individuals, 501(c)(3)s, units of government, or fiscally sponsored organizations.

Can different groups with different visions submit proposals for the same city?
Different cultural districts can exist within the same city or county. Each Cultural District will need to submit their own application.

Can you provide examples of business association?
Chambers of commerce, trade association groups, local business collectives.

Can an arts collective be the business association?
The business or community development entity should have the primary goal of supporting economic development or opportunity in the district. An arts collective would only be appropriate if this is their primary function.

Do we need written promises from networking groups, recipients, donors in the past or new assets?
The letters needed for Cultural District applications are Letters of Agreement signed by lead applicant and partner organizations and three letters of support from individual community members or artists located in the proposed district.

Who can the government partner be?
The government partner may be units of municipal, county or Tribal governments. The partner must be the branch of local government the oversees land use for the proposed district.

Does the local government need to identify the partnership and the geographic area in formal action (i.e., like action that is required for a state/local partner)?
All partners will need to provide Letters of Agreement signed by lead applicant and partner organizations.

Do you have templates and/or guidance for the Letters of Agreement?
Letters of Agreement should clearly outline the nature of the partnership, including intended resource contributions, and be signed by both parties.

How do very large districts decide who their government partner is?
The government partner may be units of municipal, county or Tribal governments. The partner must be the branch of local government the oversees land use for the proposed district.

Can a government body be listed as a partner on more than one Cultural District application?
Yes.

My proposed district includes areas that fall within a city limit and also those areas that are unincorporated areas of the county. If it’s based in the city but extends beyond, would I need to include in my application Letters of Agreement from both?
You are only required to submit a Letter of Agreement from one government partner.

If your district covers more than one city (e.g. Nevada City/Grass Valley), do you have to have partnerships with both city governments?
You will need to partner with the local form of government with the land use responsibility for the majority of your district.

Are tribes included in “branches of local government”?
Tribal governments are considered units of government.

If you are a city-legislated Cultural District, do you still need a city partner? Does your leadership council/board count as a partner?
Yes, your unit of local government still need to provide a Letter of Agreement.

What if one of our partner organizations is outside of the district?
The majority of organizations in the partnership must be located in the district, meaning two out of the three partners must be located within the proposed district.

We are in an urban city that has an existing Cultural District. Can we start a second Cultural District that serves a distinctly different geographic part of the city?
Yes, if the new Cultural District is distinctly different than the existing Cultural District and involves different partners. Partners assisted with a Cultural District already are not allowed to receive the same grant from the CAC at the same time.

How large can the district be?
There is no set limit on the geographic size of a proposed Cultural District. However, districts must demonstrate a cohesive cultural identity and the ability to achieve the program’s goals—including community engagement, cultural activation, and place-based impact.

In most cases, smaller, more focused geographic areas are better able to meet these objectives. A district that is too large or dispersed may face challenges in demonstrating cultural connectivity, coordination, and community ownership.

We strongly recommend reviewing the program guidelines and considering how your proposed boundaries reflect a clear, concentrated cultural ecosystem. When in doubt, aim for depth over breadth.

Can former Cultural District apply?
No, the 2025 Cultural districts program is intended for new, previously undesignated districts.

If our Cultural District is currently demolished, where can the site visit be?
If the cultural district does not exist due to construction/demolition, it does not have an actual location and therefore should reconsider applying to the CD program as it will not be able to meet the site visit requirement.

What are the selection criteria and how are they weighted?
The review criteria, weighted equally, for the cultural districts program are:

• Centering Equity and Accessibility

• Partnerships

• Community Engagement and Social Impact

• District Vision and Planning

Does this need to be a specific art project involving the partnership of the three organizations you mentioned?
No. All proposed activities or programming should benefit or uplift artists and community members in the proposed district. Some examples of activities or programming include cultural events, tours, public art, exhibitions, artists residences, workshops, etc.

Can cultural programming count for the two year arts programming requirement?
If its cultural programming that involves artistic and creative practices, that can count towards the two years of arts programming.

Can you give example of people as a cultural assets?
People who live, work, and share space within the Cultural District who contribute to the cultural resources of the district, including the community's overall identity through their shared traditions, artistic practices, stories, and cultural traditions.

How will the panelists be instructed to deal with proposals that promote gentrification, exclusion, and displacement clothed as Cultural District activity/planning? Our city reclassified an arts district as an “entertainment district,” for example.
Panelists will receive comprehensive training on how to evaluate proposals through an equity-focused lens and in alignment with the core values and intended outcomes of the Cultural Districts program. This includes a strong emphasis on the legislative mandate to “promote opportunity without generating displacement or expanding inequality.”

During the panel review process, proposals will be assessed not just on what they propose to do, but how they plan to do it—specifically, how districts are engaging local communities, centering cultural equity, and addressing risks of cultural erasure, exclusion, or displacement.

Proposals that rely on surface-level cultural activity without a meaningful community engagement strategy or that show signs of contributing to inequity will not be competitive. The panel training and scoring rubric will reinforce this standard to ensure the program supports Cultural Districts that are by and for their communities.