The Rancho Cucamonga Community & Arts Foundation (RCCAAF) recently launched their first Community Arts Grant Program, resulting in granting a total of $26,100 to six local arts organizations who presented plans for new arts groups, events, and instruction within the city. The program was intended to inspire and encourage local entities and individuals to create new or expanded arts experiences for the Rancho Cucamonga community. The response was strong and encouraging, as the Foundation received more proposals than could be funded in its inaugural year of grantmaking.
Organizations receiving RCCAAF grant funds are: Inland Valley Repertory Theatre, Inc., the Sam & Alfreda Maloof Foundation, TaikoMix, California Jazz Arts Society, the Associated Artist of the Inland Empire, and the Los Osos High School Theatre Department. Additionally, earlier in the year, the Foundation provided a seed grant to In Other People’s Shoes Productions, a new theatre company startup designed to serve youth and families throughout Southern California, including Rancho Cucamonga.
The programs and services provided through this year’s Community Arts Grants will support a variety of new arts efforts, for all age groups and interests, as follows:
Inland Valley Repertory Company (IVRT) will create a new children’s community choir program for Rancho youth titled I Love Chorus, specifically for children in 3rd to 5th grades. Weekly rehearsals and community performances are included in the first year’s plan. More info: www.IVRT.org
Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation will present the Maloof Community Workshop Project, as part of the Maloof “Sculpture in the Garden” program. The Project includes three artist-led workshops, online Artists Talks, weekend community artmaking experiences, and a video component to serve the Maloof Teen Education program. More info: www.malooffoundation.org.
Taiko Mix, out of Riverside, will present Introduction to Japanese Drumming a series of hands-on workshops offered in Rancho Cucamonga to learn about Asian American culture and experience taiko through performance. Workshops will be held for ages 6 – Adult, during the month of May, in recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. More info: www.taikomix.org.
California Jazz Arts Society, mostly known for hosting intimate jazz concerts in small venues and homes in the area, will initiate efforts to create a new adult singing group in Rancho, called the CalJAS Singers (or CalJas Jazz Choir) performing primarily jazz and pop standards from the Great America Songbook. More info: www.caljas.org.
Associated Artists of the Inland Empire received funds to upgrade and redesign their website for a better overall experience in sharing free art demonstration videos, presenting virtual art shows, and provide greater interconnection with their monthly newsletter, social media and the community. More info: www.associatedartistsinlandempire.org.
Los Osos High School will utilize grant funds to upgrade their theatre sound equipment with a new digital mixer and wireless microphones, that will both enhance the theatre’s overall performance sound as well as provide a better training experience for their technical theatre students.
All of the grant proposals funded are to be completed by June 2022, with many of these new efforts anticipating an ongoing existence in the community. The Foundation plans to continue offering Community Arts Grants annually. Information for 22/23 grants is now available.
