JHMural

ACMC Awarded California Arts Council “JUMP StArts” Grant

State funds support arts education projects for youth involved in the juvenile justice system Ukiah, CA – Today the California Arts Council announced a grant award of $21,600 to the Arts Council of Mendocino County…

State funds support arts education projects for youth involved in the juvenile justice system

Ukiah, CA – Today the California Arts Council announced a grant award of $21,600 to the Arts Council of Mendocino County as part of its JUMP StArts program.

JUMP StArts supports high-quality arts education and artists-in-residence programs for youth engaged in the juvenile justice system. These may be students who have been arrested, are on probation, or are incarcerated at a juvenile justice facility. Projects must be designed and developed in partnership between an arts organization and a juvenile justice facility or social service organization. The program mobilizes partnerships between arts organizations and juvenile justice entities to create arts-learning opportunities that foster positive socio-emotional, behavioral, academic, and developmental outcomes for system-engaged youth.

Side view of Juvenile Hall Mural that will be expanded in 2019 through a grant from the California Arts Council

In 2018, the Arts Council of Mendocino County completed a mural in a 29-foot section of wall within the inner courtyard of Juvenile Hall under the auspices of its Get Arts in the Schools Program. Youth at the hall were successfully engaged by lead artist, Danza Davis, in over 100 hours of painting. This new grant from the California Arts Council will fund an expansion of the existing mural into an adjacent section of wall of approximately the same dimensions, as well as two additional free-standing murals that will find permanent homes in two northern communities of Mendocino County in partnership with the Mendocino County Cultural Services Agency.

“We are so grateful for this opportunity to work with Juvenile Hall and artist Danza Davis again,” stated Arts Council Executive Director Alyssum Wier. “With this grant we will be able to help fulfill the Juvenile Hall mandate to create a home-like environment while giving youth an opportunity to gain employment-related skills and create works of art that will be exhibited in their home communities.”

The Arts Council of Mendocino County is one of 51 grantees chosen for the JUMP StArts program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council, with grant funds totaling a projected $24,508,541 for 2018-19, the highest investment in statewide arts programming since the 2000-01 fiscal year.

“Arts and culture are inextricably linked to our humanity,” said Nashormeh Lindo, California Arts Council Chair. “They serve as a universal touchpoint for understanding and addressing our societal issues—dismantling inequity, healing trauma, reframing justice, inspiring truth and shaping futures. The Council is humbled to support the vital work of the Arts Council of Mendocino County and its passionate efforts to make a better California for us all.”

To view a complete listing of all JUMP StArts grantees, visit http://arts.ca.gov/programs/program_files/1819/CurrentGrantees/FY18-19_Project_Descriptions_JUMP.pdf.

The Arts Council of Mendocino County promotes the arts and cultivates creativity to benefit and enrich the lives of residents and visitors.

The mission of the California Arts Council, a state agency, is to advance California through the arts and creativity. The Council is committed to building public will and resources for the arts; fostering accessible arts initiatives that reflect contributions from all of California’s diverse populations; serving as a thought leader and champion for the arts; and providing effective and relevant programs and services.

Members of the California Arts Council include: Chair Nashormeh Lindo, Vice Chair Larry Baza, Juan Devis, Jodie Evans, Kathleen Gallegos, Jaime Galli, Donn K. Harris, and Louise McGuinness. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.