The ArtsLIVE in Ventura County initiative will offer individual artist grants next year in all arts disciplines.

Those interested in applying for a grant must attend a required meeting from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sat., Dec. 20 at the California Lutheran University Oxnard Campus, The Palms shopping center, 2201 Outlet Center Drive, Ste. 600, Oxnard.

The Artist in the Community Partnership Project brings artists and community organizations together in ways that enliven and strengthen both. The goal is to fund new work through collaborations between artists and community organizations.

The work will be completed within a specified timeline and contain a public component.

These projects will possess artistic quality, imaginative scope and vision, interaction with the community and a final project or program that addresses a mutually agreed-upon community issue.

The partnerships will take place from May 20 through Nov. 30, 2009. An extension of this period will be considered if it is requested and justified in the grant proposal.

A large portion of the grant funds is expected to go toward three target groups: youth, seniors and the traditionally underrepresented.

The amount of $30,000 is available for grants in 2009. Requests up to a maximum of $5,000 will be considered. Most grants will be in the range of $3,000 to $4,000.

To sign up for the meeting, call the Ventura County Arts Council at (805) 658-2213 or send an e-mail message to info@venturacountyartscouncil.org.