With support from the California Arts Council, ARTE AMERICAS THE MEXICAN ARTS CENTER will build upon 4 years of successful jazz programming by naming Richard Giddens as our first Jazz Artist In Residence so that he can: Develop and curate 4 jazz concerts + master classes with guest artists. Support 10 students through a Jazz Fellowship Program aimed at growing the jazz community through artistry and concert planning. Hold bi-monthly clinics that are free and open to the public.
With multiple exhibitions a year in four gallery spaces, an outdoor music series, indoor concerts, receptions, lectures and community festivals, Arte Américas is the largest Latinx Cultural Center in the Central Valley. Major opportunities to engage include our annual dia de muertos programs and exhibitions, a Mothers’ Day Mariachi Brunch and Summer Concert Series (6 per year) in an outdoor venue known as Plaza Paz. We facilitate biweekly bilingual storytime and art workshops as well as biweekly artmaking workshops so that every weekend, our community can connect at Arte Américas. We function as fiscal sponsor for scaling organizations including an ongoing program of Mexican folkloric dance groups in the valley, Danzantes del Valle. We contract with Fresno Unified School District to teach after school and winter break arts enrichment programs for youth.

