Visual Communications Awarded California Arts Council “Artists Activating Communities” Grant

State funds will support sustained artistic residencies in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – The California Arts Council announced its plans to award Visual Communications as part of its Artists Activating Communities program.

Artists are integral to healthy communities, and the arts are a societal cornerstone that bring people together, build community, and foster social progress. The Artists Activating Communities program supports artistic residencies by centralizing artists and their artistic processes as vehicles for community vitality. Funded projects are artist-driven, and engage community members as active participants.

The California Arts Council’s Artists Activating Communities grant program is now in its second year. Visual Communications is one of just 62 grantees chosen for this highly competitive program, which received applications from 99 organizations statewide. The news of Visual Communications’ grant was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council, which can be viewed online at http://arts.ca.gov/news/pressreleases.php.

“The value of artists to their respective communities cannot be understated,” said Donn K. Harris, Chair of the California Arts Council. “They are an essential part of the framework that defines the area in which they live, preserving its past, examining its present, and cultivating its future. The California Arts Council looks forward to witnessing the impact of this collaboration between Visual Communications and At First Light through this Artists Activating Communities project.”

To view a complete listing of all Artists Activating Communities grantees, visit http://arts.ca.gov/programs/files/AAC_Grantees_2016-17_FINAL.pdf.

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Visual Communications' mission is to develop and support the voices of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers and media artists who empower communities and challenge perspectives. It is the first non-profit organization in the nation dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayals of the Asian Pacific American peoples, communities, and heritage through the media arts.  VC was created with the understanding that media and the arts are important vehicles to organize and empower communities, build connections between peoples and generations through the development of AAPI film, video, and media. The organization has created award-winning productions, nurtured and given voice to our youth and seniors, promoted new artistic talent, presented new cinema, and preserved our visual history.

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 Donn K. Harris, Vice Chair Nashormeh Lindo, Larry Baza, Phoebe Beasley, Christopher Coppola, Juan Devis, Kathleen Gallegos, Jaime Galli, Louise McGuinness, Steven Oliver, and Rosalind Wyman. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.