Stanislaus Arts Council Awarded 2025–26 State Local Partner Grant from the California Arts Council
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2025
MODESTO, CA — The Stanislaus Arts Council is honored to announce its selection as a 2025–26 grantee of the California Arts Council’s State Local Partner Program, receiving a total award of $64,500 for 2026. This critical funding ensures the continued stability of our operations and advances our core mission of serving the creative community of Stanislaus County. Of this award, $5,000 is dedicated to supporting the 2026 Poetry Out Loud Competition, which we proudly support in partnership with the MoSt (Modesto–Stanislaus) Poetry Center, while the remaining funds directly sustain and strengthen the ongoing work of the Stanislaus Arts Council. This vital investment from the State of California underscores the importance of local arts agencies in fostering cultural engagement, supporting creative communities, and ensuring equitable access to the arts.
The State Local Partner Program provides support and technical assistance to county-designated arts agencies, reinforcing their role as strategic leaders within California’s creative ecosystem. This year’s statewide grant making reflects more than $19.5 million dedicated to strengthening arts and cultural organizations across all regions of California.
“We are profoundly grateful to the California Arts Council for their continued confidence, partnership, and advocacy for the arts,” said Dominique Johnson, Executive Director of the Stanislaus Arts Council. “This support directly fuels our mission and enables us to continue to uplift artists, connect communities, and expand meaningful cultural opportunities throughout Stanislaus County. It allows us to advance advocacy measures, build sustainable infrastructure, and champion the essential value of the arts in public life.”
The CAC’s investment comes at a pivotal time as the Stanislaus Arts Council is working diligently to expand our advocacy efforts, community partnerships, and artist-centered initiatives, including collaborative projects, and accessible creative opportunities.
The California Arts Council’s 2025–26 awards continue to prioritize organizations serving historically underserved populations and those working in communities with lower Healthy Places Index scores, aligning closely with the Stanislaus Arts Council’s commitment to equitable cultural access.
“We extend our appreciation to the governor, the legislature, and the California Arts Council for recognizing the transformative power of the arts,” Johnson added. “We are proud and grateful to serve as Stanislaus County’s designated State Local Partner, and look forward to deepening our collaboration with the CAC as we collectively build a more connected, expressive, and culturally vibrant California.”
This activity is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov .
For more information on the California Arts Council, including the full list of 2025–26 grantees, visit www.arts.ca.gov.
Media Contact:
Dominique Johnson
Executive Director, Stanislaus Arts Council
djohnson@stanislausarts.org
1315 J Street, Modesto, CA 95354
About the Stanislaus Arts Council
The Stanislaus Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting, promoting, and advocating for the arts and artists of Stanislaus County. Through exhibitions, community partnerships, arts education advocacy, and cultural programming, the Council works to ensure that creativity and artistic expression remain accessible and essential components of community life.
