KERN RIVER VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION

The KRVAA has been a supporter of the arts in the Kern River Valley since 1962. Our goal is to support artists through art education, public art, art festivals and this year we have added an art gallery. We work seamlessly with our community. As a tourist valley we are trying to make the KRV a tourist destination through art. Workshops and demonstrations are now offered to our members and the public. We are seeking to bring people from outside the valley to enjoy the beautiful area and the great art from the locals.

We have begun a process to develop a greater understanding of the organization through a strategic plan. Discussions have ensued among key artists and community members to identify the significant categories of study. The categories are membership, art shows, education of our students and members, the Art Park owned by the KRVAA and public art in our community.

We are expanding on our Festivals to include local music and performing arts. We have added two festivals to our calendar. We now participate every fall in the Whiskey Flats Fall Festival with the Kernville Chamber of Commerce and put on a Christmas Craft Festival at the Art Park that coincides with the Lake Isabella Christmas Parade put on by the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce.

We are working with the community on current events and are planning more for the future. Our festivals have been more prosperous for our vendors this past year. We have added two new public art murals. We are continuing our "Outside In' program that teaches art to Developmentally Disabled Adults. We opened an art galley and still have plans to put a community center in our Art Park. We are currently pursuing grants and donations for these projects.