Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submission collection for this year’s panels will take place on November 16, 2020 and January 7, 2021.

ABOUT

The California Arts Council seeks arts and cultural practitioners from disparate communities statewide to volunteer for our upcoming grant review panels. Panelists play a critical role in the grant application process as field representatives. They work both independently and virtually alongside staff Programs Specialists and other panelists to evaluate grant applications, ensuring an equitable, honest, and thorough review and ranking process.

The panel experience provides great insight into the grant-making process, offering professional development and networking opportunities for arts practitioners working across creative sectors. Community members with careers in social justice, focusing on youth and adult programs that provide links between social service and the court systems, are also welcome to apply. In addition to experienced arts practitioners, this is a great opportunity for new and emerging members of the arts & culture community.

Invited panelists receive a $100 per day honorarium to subsidize them for their 3-day panel participation. Panelists make a three- to four-week commitment to read up to 60 applications prior to the grant review panel meeting.

Panelist Criteria

Panelists must meet the following criteria:

• A California resident
• Ability to assess and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of up to 60 applications based on a grant program’s published review criteria
• Capacity to take part in two to three virtual group meetings with up to five panelists

Diversity of panel pools include:

• Intersectional backgrounds - gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, and disability, reflecting California’s overall demographics
• Geographic distribution representing the various regions of California, including both urban and rural areas
• Experience in a wide range of artistic, cultural, and social fields, including, but not limited to:
• Artists and cultural practitioners of all disciplines
• Arts learning for youth
• Cultural placekeeping/creative placemaking
• Cultural development
• Youth advocacy
• Arts programming of, for, and by people with disabilities
• Social service, justice, community building
• Adult, juvenile detention/court
• Nonprofit management
• Arts programming for veteran populations

Panelists are included in the eligible panel pool for up to three consecutive years. If a prospective panelist’s name no longer appears on an active list, they are invited to apply again. The active panel pool lists can be viewed below:

Panel Pool 1 (approved January 25, 2018)
Panel Pool 2 (approved December 6, 2018)
Panel Pool 3 (approved December 5, 2019)

Learn more about our racial equity work: Strategic Framework
Learn more about our funding opportunities: Programs