Creative Corps Inland SoCal is a state-funded California Arts Council (CAC) project proposing to employ artists and distribute $3.8 million via grants in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
The most crucial goal for this project is to strengthen and increase the creative workforce within and across Inland Southern California. The program will help encourage artist-driven projects aiming towards sparking social amends on essential issues identified by CAC.
What is the significance of the event?
The event is a partnership between the California Arts Council, the Inland Empire Community Foundation, Arts Connection, Riverside Arts Council, and the California Desert Arts Council. Before the project initiation, Creative Corps Inland SoCal held 13 in-person hearing sessions in the two countries and one virtual listening session. The attendees were asked to brainstorm ways artists and art programs could help resolve all these issues.
“It turned out that the listening sessions weren’t just for us. Listening and participating in the brainstorming sessions sparked ideas and created new connections between artists and organizations. It jump-started the creative process.”
Jennifer Kane, the executive director of Arts Connection
With numerous discussions over the table, the team was able to incorporate new possibilities for ideas that could help foster an individual artist to apply them on behalf of a community. These listening sessions provide input on developing an accessible platform for a larger group of people.
Virtual office hours and workshops on project narrative are also available with direct assistance for individuals.
Kane said,
“The entire team was instrumental in ensuring we reached as many people as possible and brought that information to the design team. We didn’t want to make this a cookie-cutter application. We wanted something that responded to the community’s requests and needs.”
What is the event about?
The event will highlight and elaborate upon the most crucial societal issues, like public health and pandemic problems, water and energy conservation, natural disasters and recovery issues, civic participation, social justice, and community engagement. The grants will range between $25,000 and $150,000 and will be given to artists and organizations working for the betterment of the community.
The event is open for the public to attend and is free. The period for submission of applications will close on May 1, 2023, and the grant awards will be announced on June 15, 2023. The Inland Empire Community Foundation will give out the collected grants.
Creative Corps Mandate
Participant eligibility will be according to health equity, organizational/individual capacity, the designing and implementation of the program, public interaction, and accessibility. The main focus of Creative Corps Inland SoCal is to listen, discover, and implement all ideas. The group is also committed to offering continued support and helping make programs sustainable after the one-year grant period ends.
0 Comments