San Bernardino, CA—Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County has been approved for a $10,000 Grant for Arts Projects award to develop and facilitate the Innovative Youth Art Laboratory – a pilot series of arts education workshops with young artists in the City of San Bernardino. This project will expand on power-building and narrative based work that the organization is involved with through a collaboration called Just San Bernardino, with partnership from the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and project funding from The James Irvine Foundation to engage the city and its residents in the development of a People’s Plan for economic inclusion.

This art workshop series will engage 5 local artists, including Duan Kellum, Ana Cervantes, Dr. Natalie Graham, Keya Vance and Michael Segura to work directly with at least 20 youth in the city to center and amplify youth voices, visions and art practices, develop visual fluency, and bring about critical conversations and community engagement through the arts, as well as mentorship support for our young artists.

Arts Connection is grateful to project partners on this award, including Inland Congregations United for Change, Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement, and Youth Action Project. Arts Connection’s project is among the more than 1,100 projects across America totaling nearly $27 million that were selected during this second round of Grants for Arts Projects fiscal year 2021 funding.

“As the country and the arts sector begin to imagine returning to a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to announce funding that will help arts organizations such as Arts Connection to reengage fully with partners and audiences,” said NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “Although the arts have sustained many during the pandemic, the chance to gather with one another and share arts experiences is its own necessity and pleasure.”

“In a region that is vastly under-funded in the arts and receives no direct county support for our vital work, this project grant is a huge vote of confidence and will support greater fundraising and capacity for the development of collaborative programming across education, community activism, and the arts” expressed Art’s Connection’s Executive Director, Jennifer Kane. “We are proud to be bringing the community together in this way and building strength and greater visibility of the amazing artists and community organizations that create together in San Bernardino.

For more information on the projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.