CALM Holiday Lights needs volunteers

The California Living Museum is pleased to present the 18^th annual HolidayLights as a drive-thru event this year from Saturday, November 28, 2020 to Saturday, January 2, 2021, and we need your help!

We are seeking approximately 25 volunteers each night to work from 4:45 PM to 9:00 PM (or perhaps 9:30 PM on busy nights) to help us direct traffic, welcome guests and scan tickets for entry. For each shift worked, each volunteer will receive a free pass to come back and enjoy the show any night Monday – Thursday (value $30).

CALM’s HolidayLights will be a drive-thru event. See the graphic and map showing the entrance and volunteer zones. You will be assigned to a zone based on our priority needs and number of available volunteers each night.

Please email calmvol@kern.org with the date(s) you would like to volunteer and someone will get back to you with more details and a link to our orientation video. We truly appreciate your consideration and would be very grateful if you could assist this year. For questions please contact Lana Fain at (661) 871-1822 or send questions to calmvol@kern.org.

Please forward this to your friends and associates who may want to volunteers as well. Lastly, you may purchase tickets for the event (1 ticket = 1 vehicle) at www.calmzoo.org.

Communities of Color Arts and Culture 2021 Grant Applications Due November 30th

The Arts Council of Kern (ACK) is committed to the representation and inclusion of our County’s rich and diverse cultural communities. The ACK acknowledges that some of our local communities of color have been disproportionately impacted recently by the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic and recognize that these impacted communities would especially benefit from allies and community organizations working to elevate their voices during these trying times. The Arts Council of Kern recognizes that representation matters and that art is a powerful vehicle for enhancing that representation and making communities more visible.

The Arts Council of Kern, with support from the California Arts Council, has created a re-granting program that will serve communities of color disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in Kern County. The Communities of Color Arts and Culture Grant Program is intended to aid BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) arts and cultural organizations to restart arts engagement in the community. These grants are specifically intended for BIPOC arts and cultural organizations or arts/cultural organizations that primarily serve communities of color.

Please download this pdf file for more information and application instructions.

ACK_2021 Communities of Color Arts and Culture Grant Packet

Stories on the Sidewalk Returns in 2021

Coming February 13 & 14, 2021

Stories on the Sidewalk is an event created by the Arts Council of Kern that pairs local writers and actors together to tell stories from Kern County histories. Entering its third year in 2021, Stories on the Sidewalk presents a diverse series of several stories, with people from varied backgrounds, genders, ethnicities and accomplishments.

Stories on the Sidewalk is an educational walking tour through downtown Bakersfield and takes guests on a trip through time as historical figures come to life.

All tours will observe COVID-19 health guidelines including wearing masks and social distancing.

Details on Tickets Coming Soon

Plein Air 2021 is Around the Corner

April 18-24, 2021

Plein Air: Painting on-site, or the “en plein air,” a French term meaning “in the open air.”
Also, a painting done outside rather than in a studio.

The 2020 Plein Air Festival was cancelled due to COVID-19 but we’re planning our 2021 event with a great lineup on the finest Plein Air artists in the western United States.

The 7th annual Plein AIr Festival is happening April 18-24, 2021. It’s a fun and adventure-filled five days for artists and the public.

Fifteen of the best artists from the western U.S. are invited to observe and paint our beloved Kern County outside in the elements. Each year, artists produce an amazing collection of works that depict the diverse landscapes and beautiful scenes from a county unlike any other place on earth.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet these talented artists and to watch them paint local scenes. As the artists paint all week, the Arts Council will host three special events for you to celebrate their work including a picnic featuring artists working on site, a gallery show complete with an opportunity to meet and greet the artists, and a sales and reception gala in the Betty Younger Sculpture Garden in downtown Bakersfield.