California Documentary Project grants aim to resource compelling original documentary film, audio, and digital media projects that (1) help bring to light stories and perspectives previously overlooked, underrecognized, and left out of mainstream narratives; (2) help reveal the breadth and range of California’s cultures, knowledges, communities, and histories; (3) draw on public humanities methods and tools to provide context, depth, and nuance, and (4) reach both California and national audiences. 

California Documentary Project - Research and Development Grants aim to center the experiences, histories, and cultures of California’s peoples, and strengthen the connection between public humanities and documentary media productions. These grants are designed to support original, non-fiction documentary media productions in their earliest stages. Eligible projects must be in documentary media format and be ready to, or already be, actively involving at least one Humanities/Public Humanities Advisor to help frame and contextualize the story or audience development. A Humanities/Public Humanities Advisor can be an academic scholar, a humanities professional, a community historian, or a culture bearer.