With support from the California Arts Council, Arts Council of Kern will complete Roots & Resilience, a culturally grounded youth arts initiative that combines Indigenous traditions, behavioral health support, and Blue Zones longevity principles to empower underserved youth in Kern County. This project uses Indigenous storytelling, art, movement, and community rituals to promote identity, resilience, and wellness among young people aged 12–21.
Community Grants and Partnerships: Provides grant funding, technical assistance, and free monthly Cultivate Kern workshops (sponsored by The Wonderful Company) to support artists, nonprofits, schools, libraries, and museums, expanding participation and organizational capacity. Includes marketing, social media, and storytelling support to increase visibility and engagement.
ACK Gallery: A central hub for community engagement, hosting eight annual exhibits, workshops, and performances. Signature events like Latination engage up to 5,000 participants through cultural arts, music, dance, and hands-on activities.
Artist Promotion: Art Walk & Makers Markets: Dynamic monthly public event in downtown Bakersfield for original visual and performing artists to showcase their work. Makers Market showcases local arts/crafts for sale, rotating artists every quarter and is open when ACK is open.
Arts Education/Creative Economy Training: ACK offers arts integration classes for teachers, artists in residency (classroom/after-school), community schools CTE, and a new workforce development program for junior high students. Summer camps and Artist Catalog also key features.
Prison Arts Initiative: Provides multidisciplinary arts programming for incarcerated individuals, building self-awareness, communication skills, and workforce readiness.
Art4Rehabilitation (A4R): Award-winning program serving justice-involved youth most vulnerable to recidivism, reducing behavioral incidents while building creative and career skills through mentorship and internships.
Common Ground: Indigenous arts program offering workshops, storytelling, murals, and exhibitions that strengthen cultural identity and expand access in underserved communities.
Public Art Programs: Partnerships with Caltrans and public parks to engage communities in mural projects that increase cultural storytelling and neighborhood pride.
Literary Arts: Poet Laureate, Poetry Out Loud, Stories on the Sidewalk, and open mic events promote literacy, storytelling, and community dialogue.
2026-27 Pilot Programs: Creative Pathways for Healthy Futures, a Kaiser-funded initiative and Creative Recovery for Women, another grant funded program, using the arts to support individuals facing barriers to employment to find work in the creative economy.