Five Yolo County Arts Organizations Awarded
YoloArts has distributed $12,630 to support five local arts and cultural nonprofits in Yolo County.
In December the California Arts Council approved the distribution of $710,400 of CARES Act funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The funding was designated for use by California’s state-local arts partners to serve communities of color disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. YoloArts has been a state-local partner in the arts since 1981.
The California Arts Council then distributed CARES funding to county arts councils to re-grant to local arts and cultural groups serving socially vulnerable populations, particularly communities of color.
“YoloArts is proud to make these grants to arts organizations that have been impacted by the pandemic. We are especially proud to focus on these grants on organizations serving communities of color in Yolo County,” said Alison Flory, YoloArts executive director.
Grants between $500 and $3,000 to eligible nonprofits were available for general operating support and on-going programming in Yolo County. The five organizations receiving an average award amount of $2,500 are:
- Mariachi Puente is an after school mariachi band club that is open to students with music background from Davis. Funding will support the payment of music coaches for video programming to continue student engagement during distance learning.
- Bike City Theatre Company is a three year old organization focused on original works and educational theatre. Funding will support a virtual adaptation of Sandy Holman’s award winning book, Grandpa, is Everything Black Bad? which will stream online free of charge to all of Yolo County.
- Winters Participation Gallery for the Arts holds a six-week mural class for up to 20 middle and high school students each summer. Murals are painted on the wall of a Winters business, focused on aspects of Winters history, drawing attention to the business. Funding will support the 2021 summer program.
- Yolo Community Band brings appreciation of music to Yolo County residents and promotes the musical growth of Yolo county musicians through concert appearances, with a special focus on outreach concerts with county high school students. Funding will support retaining the director’s services to work remotely until in-person rehearsals and performances can resume; distribution of additional small ensemble music; and costs for production of virtual “concert” performances.
- United in Unity is a non-profit organization that promotes respect and understanding of diversity/equity, cultural competency, literacy, and a quality education for all. Funding will support the screening of Cost of Darkness Documentary in conjunction with the annual community Juneteenth Celebration including technical costs associated with hosting a virtual screening of the film, followed by small group discussions for all who want to participate.
For more information contact YoloArts, ya@yoloarts.org.