Every month, the Arts Council funds wonderful community art projects and professional development opportunities at up to $1,000. Here are the six projects that received funding last month:
- Gregg Young & the 2nd Street Band, a nine-piece band that plays jazz, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, Latin, funk and pop, will play at Belmont Shore Stroll & Savor on July 21. Stroll & Savor is a popular monthly, summer event with over 45 restaurants offering the best of their menus. Participants enjoy an evening stroll listening to musicians.
- The Cambodia Town Film Festival introduces new studio and independent feature films, documentaries, short films, animated shorts and re-released classics. The four-day program includes a variety of special events and panel discussions. This year’s festival will take place from September 1–4 at the Art Theatre of Long Beach.
- International Concert in the Park/Romanian Talents is a free outdoor concert at MacArthur Park on July 9 from 4–7 p.m. Twenty-seven Romanian artists ages 10 to 20 will perform English and Romanian songs and dances. The artists are coming to Long Beach to compete in the World Championship of Performing Arts, hosted this year by the City of Long Beach from July 8–17.
- The Southern Steelhead Mural Project is a partnership between the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Councilmember Al Austin’s Office and the Arts Council for Long Beach. The mural was designed by NOAA Science in the Studio awardee Esteban Camacho Steffensen and will go up at 5399 Market Street on the corner of Market and Orange in North Long Beach. A local artist will paint the mural with the help of teachers and students from Bret Harte Elementary. NOAA biologists and staff will provide classroom presentations about the steelhead trout, including its biology and recovery, as well as the health of our local watersheds.
- Friends of Bixby Park will continue its third year of First Saturday’s Music at Bixby Bandshell this summer. Park visitors can picnic and enjoy musical entertainment on the first Saturday of each month. The events will take place on June 4, July 2 and August 6.
- Local filmmaker Deiatra Yevette received a professional development microgrant to pay for membership and classes at the Public Access Digital Network (PADNET). Classes include a producer’s workshop, field production, shooting DSLR and After Effects, among other studio classes.
Apply for a microgrant today! Applications are due the 15th of each month. The Arts Council revised microgrant guidelines this year to streamline the process and make it easier to receive funding. For more information and to apply, please visit www.artslb.org/services/grants.