National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $30 million in grants as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2017. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $20,000 to the Arts Council for Long Beach. The Art Works category focuses on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts and the strengthening of communities through the arts.
“The arts are for all of us, and by supporting organizations such as the Arts Council for Long Beach, the National Endowment for the Arts is providing more opportunities for the public to engage with the arts,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Whether in a theater, a town square, a museum or a hospital, the arts are everywhere and make our lives richer.”
The funding will support the Arts Council’s Cambodia Town Mural Project, an initiative that will install up to nine public art murals along Anaheim Street between Long Beach Blvd. and Junipero Ave. by Summer 2017. This project is in partnership with Cambodia Town Inc., the United Cambodian Community (UCC), Homeland Cultural Center and the offices of Councilmembers Dee Andrews and Daryl Supernaw and is additionally funded through a matching grant from the California Arts Council. Ongoing community planning efforts will encourage the future facilitation of similar projects in additional Long Beach neighborhoods.
One of the murals will be created through a community workshop, whereby a professional artist at the UCC will facilitate local community members – from youth to seniors – to conceive, design and paint a mural. Up to eight murals will be painted by artists chosen through a Call for Artists. A videographer, also chosen through a Call for Videographer, will create a short video of the project. The Arts Council looks forward to announcing the participating artists in late January.
“Cambodia Town, Inc. is excited to participate in the Cambodia Town Mural Project. We believe the murals will help to highlight the diverse cultures in Cambodia Town, and attract visitors and increase business opportunities in the district,” said Pasin Chanou, chairman of Cambodia Town, Inc.
Susana Sngiem, director of UCC said in a statement, “UCC is looking forward to the partnership with Arts Council, Cambodia Town, Inc. and Homeland Cultural Center. The murals will create community pride in Cambodia Town and unite the diverse community in increasing the vitality and beauty of the neighborhood. Community members are very excited to showcase the beauty and values in Cambodia Town.”
For more information about the Cambodia Town Mural Project visit artslb.org/news.
For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.