Grantee Database

CELEBRATION ARTS

Grant Year

2024-25

Grant Program

Arts Education – Exposure

Award Amount

$23,147.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, Celebration Arts will provide arts education exposure to 400 middle and high school students from priority communities in Sacramento.

Celebration Arts will add school matinee performances for FENCES by August Wilson during the run in 2025. The play, centering on a working-class African-American family in the 1950s, addresses universal themes of family, identity, and pursuing the American Dream, providing rich material for discussion and reflection. By exposing students to such thought-provoking content, Celebration Arts aims to broaden cultural understanding and inspire critical thinking. August Wilson is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest playwrights, and studying his work offers students an opportunity to engage with high-quality literature and theater that has enduring relevance. The added performances will add to the creative economy by paying performing artists.

Organization Summary

Celebration Arts offers transformative arts education and performance opportunities that inspire creativity, build confidence, and elevate underrepresented voices—particularly within the Black community.

At the heart of this work is the ACTivate! Arts Academy, which provides engaging arts experiences for K–12 students:

Kids’ Time is an eight-week program for up to 50 children ages 6–12. Through music, movement, and drama, participants grow in confidence, discipline, and creativity. The program concludes with a live performance that celebrates their achievements.

Teen Magic serves up to 50 African American teens ages 13–17, addressing the lack of arts education in many underserved schools. Over eight weeks, teens explore theater, music, and dance while building teamwork, leadership, and communication skills in a culturally affirming environment.

School Field Trips bring nearly 3,600 K–12 students to Celebration Arts annually. These visits expose young people to live theater and the transformative power of storytelling.

Celebration Arts also stages six theatrical productions each year, showcasing works by award-winning Black playwrights. These plays center the Black experience and foster dialogue around culture, identity, and community.

In addition, the organization hosts two annual dance concerts, highlighting local and regional performers. These events celebrate the depth and diversity of Black artistic expression through powerful movement and storytelling.

Through its performances and educational programs, Celebration Arts nurtures the next generation of artists and storytellers. The organization remains deeply committed to creating space for creativity, connection, and the amplification of Black voices in the arts.

Organization

CELEBRATION ARTS

Address

2727 B ST

SACRAMENTO

95816-3212

County

Sacramento

Region

Capital

Phone

(916) 455-2787

Congressional District

California's 6th congressional district

State Assembly District

District 6

State Senate District

District 8

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