Struggling Cities Can Find a Voice Through Art

Accessible Spaces for Creativity Can Change a Community's Narrative from Within

In 2012, San Bernardino, California, filed for bankruptcy with more than $1 billion in debt. The city, about 60 miles east of L.A., is still climbing out from the devastation of the Great Recession. At 20 percent, San Bernardino County’s poverty rate is among the highest in the state. Yet the arts scene is flourishing. A poet and photographer recently joined forces for a public art project to explore residents’ experiences of their city. A new cultural center has asked students to submit art on what they love about San …

November 16, 2015

How a City Hopes to Fulfill New Dreams

San Bernardino Is Creating Space and Community for the Arts

By Ernie Garcia | November 13, 2015

In Southern California, most people know about San Bernardino and its ongoing municipal bankruptcy. Last summer, the L.A. Times called the city a “symbol of the nation’s urban woes.”

But most …

Don’t Be So Snooty, Small Towns Have Museums and Performing Arts, Too

The Problem Is That Too Many People Feel Unwelcome in Galleries and Theaters

By Lisa McDermott | November 3, 2015

Growing up, my siblings and I were surrounded by art. In our house, jazz and opera were always playing, literature lined the shelves, and the work of local artists hung …

L.A.’s Cultural Affairs Manager Grew Up Drawing Punk Rock Ladies

Danielle Brazell Considers Biking the Closest Thing to Flying

September 12, 2015

Danielle Brazell is the general manager of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs. She oversees arts and cultural programming throughout the city. Before she participated in a discussion about the …

Imagination Is a City’s Most Vital Resource

If You Want to Know the Health of a City, Count the Permits It Issues for Concerts, Street Fairs, and Festivals

June 19, 2015

In hard economic times, cities need to decide what industries are essential, and what programs and services can be cut down to save resources. The arts are perennial contenders for …

What’s So Great About Coachella?

The Power of Indie Pop, Shakespeare, and Fine Art Festivals to Create Community and Make People Happy

April 11, 2015

This weekend, tens of thousands—maybe even nearly 100,000—music fans are rocking out at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. With multiple stages going full-blast, festivalgoers will face …

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