About -

get to know us

Our Mission

The Arts Council of Kern’s mission is...

to provide arts education, access, and advocacy to all Kern County residents and visitors. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and are the designated local arts agency for Kern County.

We serve our mission in partnership with the California Arts Council, the County of Kern, and local agencies. Taking cues from community leaders, underserved populations, and the art-going public, the ACK endeavors to more accurately serve the county and its people by introducing new ways of thinking about art while also giving financial support to artists, creatives, and organizations that have been working diligently to bring the arts to Kern County.

Our Vision

The ACK prides itself on connecting directly with our constituents to serve our community best. By supporting projects that reflect the values and cultural heritage of the people within Kern County, our organization can more accurately uplift, involve, and highlight the many voices we serve. The ACK works to build a solid case for including creative endeavors and the support of individuals working in the arts.

Local community leaders’ recent acceptance of the arts comes from a concerted leveraging of the county’s endemic cultural variety and arts opportunities. The public has asked for more creative activities, arts access, and additional arts funding. Through the council’s programming, cultural diversity, and the sheer number of artists in Kern County, we’ve restructured ACK to fulfill these needs.

moving forward

Our Values

Working to make art part of our culture in Kern County, ACK understands the necessity to acknowledge all forms of craft and cultural production. This understanding will help build a solid foundation for future endeavors.

ACK connects traditional indigenous practice, lowrider car culture, and public art to support historically-overlooked populations and their contributions to the vast web of our shared creative heritage.

We value inclusivity, diversity, creativity, and collaboration among our core values.

what people are saying

This is always an enjoyable change for us each month when the first Friday comes around. Lots of shops and street vendors. Good for most ages.

– kristina b.

What fun!! Lots of people with interesting wares and street musicians. There were crafts, plants, paintings, and beautiful woodwork. This event is another reason Bakersfield is such a bombdigity town with a great atmosphere. I love it!

– cheryl g.

How Can We Work Together?

01

mural Zoom meeting —

April 28 4pm

Muralist, please plan to attend our Zoom meeting to learn more about the CalTrans projects. Register: info@kernarts.org

THE DETAILS

Zoom Event & Gallery Exhibit

02

celebrating HOME EXHIBIT —

Presently

the ACK gallery is featuring artwork from our Kern County artists and the “Celebrating Home” Reception. ACK is located at 2001 22nd Street, Ste. 110, in Bakersfield, CA.

THE DETAILS

GET TO KNOW US —

RICH IN HISTORY

Arts Council of Kern

was founded in 1977 as the Local Arts Agency, a partnership between the County of Kern and the State of California. Two years later, ACK was incorporated as a public nonprofit 501(c)(3). The ACK was developed to advocate for and pay artists for work in and with our county’s communities, agencies, and commissions while also serving as a communication link between Kern’s creative community and State and County organizations on key issues facing the arts in our region.

Because of our long partnership with the County of Kern, the ACK serves as their regranting organization, dispersing funds for arts capacity building. The ACK also works closely with the City of Bakersfield and with other municipalities to bring arts and culture programs to underserved and culturally isolated populations. The ACK seeks to address its diverse population and to provide support for traditionally underrepresented groups in the arts community.

We’re looking for

2024 Art Instructors

The Arts Council of Kern is hiring Instructors of all art forms for our 2024 Art Program. For details and more information, please contact: director@kernarts.org

Questions about the

Central California
Micro-Region 1 program?

Please contact the Arts Council of Kern
info@kernarts.org | 661.324.9000

first friday

ArtWalk

PROMOTE YOUR ART!

Permits and Vendor location assignments will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Vendors must apply for their First Friday Art Walk Vendor Permit and meet specific requirements (See permit application requirements) before receiving their permit and designated location.