Programs

The Siskiyou Arts Council provides a variery of programs to enhance the arts in Siskiyou County, and offers support for many independent projects and organizations to fulfill our mission of bringing heart and vitality to our communities, and fostering a spirit of creativity and prosperity through excellence in the arts.

Support for Arts Groups and Events: The SAC supports local arts groups in a variety of ways, from complete program sponsorship with SAC’s 501(c)(3) non-profit status, to coordination, publicity, and insurance support. A few of our partner groups include The Mount Shasta Writers Series, with poetry readings, open mic poetry, workshops and publications; the Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival; the H2O Manifesto from Mt. Shasta City Dance Theater, and much more.

Art Education and The Children’s ArtsBus Project: The Siskiyou Arts Council, through its Siskiyou ArtsBus Project, works with organizations and schools to provide arts education and activities for children. The Siskiyou ArtsBus Project’s renovated classic school bus is a rolling art classroom. We provide art classes and activities through established programs such as the Family Resource Centers of the First 5 Siskiyou Commission, Recreation Departments, YMCA, elementary schools, art walks and public events. In fall of 2006, and continuing into spring 2007, SAC provided free weekly after-school arts programs in collaboration with First 5 Siskiyou’s Family Resource Centers. Communities served included Etna (with Scott Valley Family Resource Center), Yreka (with the Yreka YMCA’s Y-Star Program), McCloud (with McCloud Family Resource Center), and Mt. Shasta (with Mt. Shasta Family Resource Center). SAC also provides an ongoing art program at the Court School in Yreka, collaborating wih County Schools and Juvenile Justice.

Artists on the Internet!: The SAC web site provides an On-line Artists’ Registry, with World Wide Web listings for the artists, writers, musicians and performers of Siskiyou county. This provides rural artists with needed exposure and public access everywhere the internet reaches. Arts organizations, services and businesses are also invited to join the Registry, free to all Friends of SAC. When funding allows, SAC provides free photography, in-depth interviews, and marketing assistance for Siskiyou County artists and performers, all of which is included on the website and used by the participating arists to further their own careers.

Voices Between the Mountains: Youth Digital Filmmakers: The SAC sponsored, in 2007-08, a team of young filmmakers from the towns of Mt. Shasta, Happy Camp and the Karuk Nation will create a film about the geography, culture and history of Siskiyou County. For more information, see the Voices Between the Mountains web page.

Siskiyou Arts on TV: The SAC assists in the production of TV shows on the arts in Siskiyou County, in cooperation with MCTV-15, the public access television station in Weed, CA. Shows feature interviews and demonstrations, upcoming arts events, and featured artists, musicians and writers, and are also presented on YCTV.

Public Art Projects and the Community Peace Mural: The activities of the Community Peace Mural Project committee in Mt. Shasta are a sponsored program of the Siskiyou Arts Council. The ceramic tile Community Peace Mural was completed by a wide variety of community participants in 2005 as a sponsored program of the Siskiyou Arts Council. The mural was installed in 2007 next to the Mt. Shasta Chamber’s Visitor Center. SAC is working with Shasta Regional Community Foundation to bring the new Community Building Arts Initiative to area artists and organizations. Volunteer SAC grantwriters work with programs and projects to seek funding.

Art Walks: The Downtown Friday Night Art Walks program was launched by SAC and JEDI in communities throughout Siskiyou County. Community organizers and volunteers continue these events with SAC assistance. SAC works with volunteers throughout the county to organize and promote the monthly Mt. Shasta Third Friday Art Walk, Weed Arts Evnts, and the annual Dunsmuir ArtWalk.

Holiday Gala: This annual event is traditionally held on Valentine’s Day weekend, when SAC hosts a fundraising evening of fine art and art demonstrations, enterainment, hord d’ouvres and wine tasting to benefit the Siskiyou Arts Council. Please call or email us at arts@siskiyouartscouncil.org if you would like to be part of organizing this yearly event.

Mt Shasta Writers Series: The Mount Shasta Writers Series is an independent program supported by the Siskiyou Arts Council and area business and individuals in collaboration with Poets and Writers. Regular poetry readings, open mic poetry evenings, workshops and publications are presented, and the new literary journal, Moving Mountain is periodically released. For more information see the Mt. Shasta Writers’ Series website for details.