The California Arts Council announced a grant award of $16,200 to the Redlands Symphony Association as part of its Artists in Communities program.
Artists in Communities (AC) centralizes artists and their artistic process as vehicles for community vitality. AC grants support sustained artistic residencies in community settings. Artists must work closely with organizational partners and community members to produce creative projects that are relevant and responsible to their community.
The AC funding will go to support various programs under the Redlands Symphony’s OrKIDstra music education banner. These programs include free live concert programs for children in 4th and 5th grade, in-school ensembles for middle and high school students, free tickets for high school music students allowing them to attend regular Redlands Symphony concerts, the popular annual Instrument Petting Zoo, and the Redlands Symphony Summer Music Academy which provides a two-week intensive music program for kids ages 8 to 14.
“Music education that includes exposure to performing musicians in various programs is a major focus of our mission,” according to Paul Ideker, President & CEO of the Redlands Symphony, “We are honored by this grant award and the recognition it carries with it for the cultural enrichment our programs provide the young people throughout our region.”
“Redlands Symphony is one of 96 grantees chosen for the Artists in Communities program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council, with grant funds totaling a projected $24,508,541 for 2018-19, the highest investment in statewide arts programming since the 2000-01 fiscal year.
“Arts and culture are inextricably linked to our humanity,” said Nashormeh Lindo, California Arts Council Chair, “they serve as a universal touchpoint for understanding and addressing our societal issues – dismantling inequity, healing trauma, reframing justice, inspiriting truth and shaping futures. The council is humbled to support the vital work of the Redlands Symphony and its passionate efforts to make a better California for us all.”