With support from the California Arts Council, VISALIA ARTS CONSORTIUM, INC., will continue providing crucial support to our community in a county with tracts predominantly rated below 50% in the Healthy Places Index; we will continue empowering our own staff to become long-term supporters of our local creative economy; we will also continue our weekly, monthly, and annual arts programming (weekly mental health based art training; monthly art shows; monthly informational videos on Youtube; provide bimonthly artist placement at a local farmer’s market; offer artist opportunities to create at least 3 public art works per year; fiscal agency program currently supporting 2 local start-ups; quarterly educative presentations to local law enforcement regarding mental health crisis and recovery; arts focused micro-granting for individuals and organizations; annual festival; annual studio tour; and annual publication).
Our programs include:
– My Voice Media Center (in-house mental health based arts project; providing professional arts training for mental health consumers/their support base – Tues-Thurs: 10am-3pm) (new off-site youth sessions started in 2021, in partnership with CASA of Tulare County)
– Taste The Arts (annual art festival and street fair)
– First Friday (year-round program for art exhibits with monthly receptions)
– South Valley Artists Studio Tour (annual studio tours of Tulare County artists)
– Special Programs (fiscal agent program for 3 art startups with 2 former programs now organized under their own 501c3)
– Poetry Our Loud (in partnership with the Tulare County Office of Education; ordinarily serves more than 1000 youths)
– Membership Program (providing promotional services, discounted/free artist opportunities, and access to our programming committees)
– Community public art program (working with various Tulare County entities, currently working to install art on walls inside public access government buildings, on bridge renovations, and in county parks).
– Community art grants program (recently revamped a fairly restrictive grant program into one that no longer requires matching funds, can be applied for by individuals and organizations, and can now help organizations putting on arts and culture events with paid admission).

