The mission of Arrowhead Arts Association (AAA) is to enrich the quality of life of the residents, youth and visitors of the San Bernardino mountain communities. AAA is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) organization. It was formed in 1985 by a group of San Bernardino Mountain residents and businesses to help provide a rich cultural life for the area. Our primary purpose is to provide high quality, sequential music education to children who live in our rural mountain communities by conducting music education programs in our local schools, providing direct funds to students for instruments and private lessons, and supporting performances by local ensembles and visiting artists.

AAA serves approximately 44,000 people living in the San Bernardino mountain communities of Cedar Pines Park, Valley of Enchantment, Crestline, Twin Peaks, Rimforest, Lake Arrowhead, Blue Jay, Cedar Glen, Skyforest, Grass Valley Lake, Running Springs, and Arrowbear. Our mountain communities have a high rate of poverty, despite a concentration of wealth in certain areas.

Tourism is the area’s primary industry. Over the last two years, the COVID-19 lockdowns and associated public health restrictions on public schools and tourism-related activities have had a profound impact on the economic and emotional well-being of our mountain communities.

The people of the mountain communities are 73% White, 21% Latinx, 1% Black, 1% Asian, 1% Native, and 3% other. Unemployment is at 7.8% (well above the national average) and approximately 21% of our mountain residents live in poverty.