California Humanities Awards Grants to Support Cultural and Historical Initiatives Across the State

Oakland, CA – California Humanities is proud to announce the recipients of its latest round of grants, awarding funding to organizations across the state to support vital cultural and historical projects. These grants will empower communities to explore, document, and share stories that shape California’s heritage, fostering public engagement through exhibitions, storytelling, and humanities-based programming. 

The awarded projects reflect a wide range of topics, from indigenous histories to immigrant storytelling. Grant recipients include museums, libraries, theater groups, and community organizations committed to enriching the public’s understanding of California’s past, present, and future.

Los Angeles Metro: Mexicali Biennial Inc. (Whittier) – PARA/normal Borders Lab ($25,000) – A multi-year series of events exploring California and Mexico as a supernatural zone. Santa Monica Historical Society Inc. (Santa Monica) – Tongva People of Santa Monica Past and Present ($25,000) – Two exhibitions highlighting the indigenous history of Santa Monica in partnership with Tongva leaders. 

Central Coast: The Museum of Art and History at the McPherson Center (Santa Cruz) – Heʻe nalu ma California: How Three Hawaiian Princes Brought Surfing to the Americas ($25,000) – A 140th-anniversary exhibition celebrating the impact of Hawaiian royalty on California surfing culture. Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society (Santa Barbara) – Santa Barbara Hispanic Family Histories, 1850-1950 ($5,000) – A project preserving Hispanic family histories in Santa Barbara. 

Sacramento Metro: Capital Storytelling (Sacramento) – Immigrant Storytelling ($20,000) – Workshops and a showcase event empowering first and second-generation immigrants to share their narratives. Women of Color on the Move (Sacramento) – Voices of Resilience: Exploring the Diverse Narratives of Sacramento ($5,000) – A program amplifying the stories of marginalized communities through community events. 

Inland Empire: Green Room Theatre Company (Coachella) – Displacement: Stories from Section 14 ($24,200) – A public discussion series and digital archive highlighting the forced evictions of Section 14. Riverside Museum Associates (Riverside) – In/VISIBLE, Un/HEARD: Riverside’s Civil Rights Stories ($5,000) – A historical exploration of civil rights milestones in Riverside. 

Bay Area: Ubuntu Theater Project Inc. (Oakland) – Climate ImpACTS ($25,000) – A year-long season of theatrical works addressing environmental justice issues. The Living New Deal Project (Berkeley) – Forgotten Federal Art Legacies: From the New Deal to CETA in San Francisco ($5,000) – A project uncovering overlooked federal art initiatives. Independent Arts & Media (San Francisco) – Union Maya ($5,000) – Workshops in ancestral Mayan weaving and language. 

Central Valley: Madera County Library (Madera) – Colliding Worlds: Exploring the Culture and Traditions of the North Fork Mono Rancheria of California Indians ($25,000) – A public exhibit and programming collaboration with local Indigenous communities. Chicano Youth Center (Fresno) – La Cultura Cura: Healing through Art ($5,000) – Art-based workshops supporting youth and families. 

San Diego Metro: GLM House (Lemon Grove) – Re-Entry into Society ($2,500) – A storytelling initiative focused on the experiences of formerly incarcerated individuals. 

This year’s grants reflect California Humanities’ ongoing commitment to fostering cultural dialogue and preserving California stories that define the state. By supporting these projects, California Humanities continues to champion the power of storytelling, history, and the arts in strengthening community connections. 

For more information about these projects and California Humanities, visit calhum.org.