February 6, 2026
SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Arts Council announced today the 10 artists, arts leaders, and arts organizations to be recognized at its upcoming 50th anniversary celebration.
The event, taking place April 20 in Sacramento, will commend the following, selected for their significant contributions to the cultural and civic life of California:
- David Geffen
Visionary producer and philanthropist who has shaped Los Angeles culture by bridging the worlds of music, film, and art while providing record-breaking support to the city’s premier cultural institutions. - Mildred Howard
Berkeley-based artist and educator whose powerful sculptures and public installations explore memory and social justice, transforming California’s civic spaces into sites of reflection and inclusion. - Barbara Kruger
World-renowned conceptual artist and educator whose bold, feminist, and anti-consumerist works have reshaped the visual language of contemporary art and social critique. - Magic Theatre
A historic San Francisco institution that remains at the forefront of the performing arts by centering the voices of Indigenous, Black, and people of color to foster a more inclusive theatrical community. - Cheech Marin
Legendary actor, director, writer, musician, art collector, humanitarian, multigenerational talent, cultural icon and champion to Chicano art. - Charles Ray
Defining California sculptor and influential UCLA professor known for his uncanny, technically masterful works that have pushed the boundaries of contemporary sculpture on a global scale. - Sage Romero
Member of the Big Pine Paiute and Taos Pueblo tribes who empowers Native youth through the AkaMya Culture Group, bridging traditional hoop dance and storytelling with modern media. - San Jose Taiko
A world-class percussion ensemble that has spent over 50 years captivating global audiences and fostering cultural diversity through the artistry and philosophy of Japanese drumming. - Josie Talamantez
A historian and activist who co-founded Chicano Park, preserving the cultural heritage of Barrio Logan by establishing the largest collection of Chicano murals in the United States. - Luis Valdez
The founder of El Teatro Campesino who revolutionized Latino theater by blending professional artistry with social justice, beginning on the picket lines of the Delano Grape Strike.
“The artistic and cultural achievements of these individuals and organizations have been extraordinary, meaningful, immeasurable and immovable. California’s creative heart beats on due to their unwavering dedication,” said Executive Director Danielle Brazell.
Current Council members and CAC staff will also recognize the impact and legacy of the original members of the Arts Council, established in 1976, that laid the foundational groundwork for the state arts agency:
- Peter Coyote
- Suzanne Jackson
- William Allaudin Mathieu
- Gary Snyder
- Luis Valdez
Original Council members Ruth Asawa, Karney Hodge, Alexander Mackendrick, and Noah Purifoy will also be posthumously honored with a special memorial tribute during the event.
“On behalf of the Council, it is my distinct pleasure within our 50th anniversary celebration to recognize the visionary leadership of our founding members and regale ourselves with our origin story,” said Council Chair Roxanne Messina Captor. “Then to look forward, to nourish and innovate our agency’s legacy of support for the arts, and seek to further cultivate our role as stewards of the creative and cultural landscape that is California.”
Award recipients were selected through a nomination process that included an opportunity for Council members to nominate up to two Californian artists, arts leaders, or arts organizations; State-Local Partner organizations were also invited to select one nominee each from their respective counties.
From this pool of approximately 100 nominees, a panel comprised of two Council members and the CAC Executive Director reviewed and score the nominations derived from the CAC’s panel-ranking rubric, which narrowed the list to 20 semifinalists. Those semifinalists were then presented to the Council body, which voted in a closed session to select the final cohort of awardees.
About the California Arts Council 50th Anniversary
In 2026, the California Arts Council (CAC) celebrates 50 years of creative impact. Established to encourage artistic awareness and participation, the CAC has spent five decades advancing artistic excellence, inclusion, and creativity as essential pillars of California’s identity. The 50th anniversary is a year-long milestone dedicated to honoring the agency’s legacy, celebrating the resilience of the state’s cultural landscape, and charting a strategic vision for the next 50 years of arts accessibility and innovation.
Details regarding the public awards ceremony and anniversary event in April are forthcoming. Visit https://arts.ca.gov/about/50-years-of-creative-impact for more information.
Media Inquiries Only:
Kimberly Brown
Public Affairs Specialist
[email protected]
The Riverside Art Museum Board of Trustees is thrilled to continue the RAM/Cheech scholarship via Dollars for Scholars for a Greater Riverside High School graduate. RAM is excited to celebrate Viviana Franco as the 2026 recipient of this scholarship.
Viviana Franco is a graduating senior from John F. Kennedy Middle College High School. In addition to a 4.5 weighted GPA, Viviana will also be graduating with five associate degrees from Norco College in Studio Art and Fine Arts. She currently serves as president of the JFK Middle College High School Art Club. Viviana plans to attend Otis College of Art and Design to pursue a degree in animation. The Riverside Art Museum is proud to support Viviana in her pursuit of higher education!
Learn more about the RAM/Cheech Scholarship
The RAM/ Cheech Scholarship is intended to award financial support to a graduating senior to assist with college tuition. If awarded, the scholarship payment would be issued, upon proof of registration, to the university or college the graduating senior attends to be used toward tuition.
The Basic Criteria for the RAM/ Cheech Scholarship include: (1) minimum 2.5 g.p.a.; (2) committed to art or art-related study; (3) engaged w/ local art community (preferred); (4) from a community that is historically underrepresented in the arts (preferred); (5) have a portfolio of visual art (10-pages, if possible).
Please check back for updates on next year’s scholarship application.
Application Criteria
The RAM/ Cheech Scholarship is intended to award $2,500 to a graduating senior to assist with college tuition. If awarded, the scholarship payment would be issued, upon proof of registration, to the university or college the graduating senior attends to be used toward tuition.
The Basic Criteria for the RAM/ Cheech Scholarship include: (1) minimum 2.5 g.p.a.; (2) committed to art or art-related study; (3) engaged w/ local art community (preferred); (4) from a community that is historically underrepresented in the arts (preferred); (5) have a portfolio of visual art (10-pages, if possible).
Note: If you have already started your application via Dollars for Scholars, we urge you to submit as soon as possible. If you have not started your application process, we invite you to print and submit a physical application to The Cheech and Riverside Art Museum. Additionally, scholarship applications will be available at The Cheech and Riverside Art Museum.
CALL FOR EXHIBITION PROPOSALS
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum (The Cheech) is inviting proposals to program the Altura Credit Union Community Gallery space SPRING 2026. The Community Gallery is dedicated to highlighting the work of emerging and mid-career artists with roots I’m in in the Inland Empire region. This call for proposals supports the museum’s mission, to uplift diverse artistic and cultural voices, cultivate inclusive exhibitions, collections and educational programming, engage in transformative conversations, and foster strong community connections.
EXHIBITION PERIOD: March 28 – September 13, 2026
DESCRIPTION:
The Community Gallery is located at the entrance of The Cheech and provides approximately 1500 square feet of exhibition space which can be considered a single space, or divided in half to create two galleries of approximately 750 square feet each;
Our preferred proposals for SPRING 2026 are for single-artist ½ gallery 750 sq foot) exhibitions. Larger group shows (1500 sq feet) will also be considered.
A curatorial fee of $1000 will be paid per ½ gallery space ($2000 for the entire Community Gallery).Note: additional stipends for organizing and participating in exhibition-related programming may be available;
The museum’s professional staff will work with the selected curator(s)/artist(s) to secure art loans, organize the installation and marketing of the exhibition, and host an exhibition reception at the museum’s expense.
ELIGIBILITY: Curators and/or artists who have roots in the Inland Empire (Riverside County and San Bernardino County).
PROPOSALS: Please submit the following materials to [email protected]
- Your contact information and CV or resume;
- An abstract of 1-2 pages describing the exhibition’s premise and objective(s). This should discuss the exhibition’s themes, intended audience, cultural and regional significance (Inland Empire), and curatorial viewpoint.
- If available, a preliminary checklist of works proposed for the exhibition, including artist, title, date, medium, dimensions, and if possible, lender’s name and location. At a minimum, please provide at least 3-5 images of representative works;
- Please note if there are any works proposed for the show which will require shipping from outside the region, special handling/installation, loan fees, or other considerations.
PROPOSAL DEADLINE: January 4, 2026
Proposal Application Fee: None
Selection: Finalists may be invited to present their proposal to an exhibition selection panel comprised of museum staff.
Successful candidate(s) will be notified January 2026
For questions regarding the residency program, please email [email protected] and in the subject line indicate PROPOSAL QUESTION
Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
Riverside Art Museum is accepting applications for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence Program, designed to support emerging and mid-career artists with roots in the Inland Empire area. In support of the museum’s mission,* this residency offers a unique opportunity to develop new work while engaging with our community.
*Riverside Art Museum uplifts diverse artistic and cultural voices, cultivates inclusive exhibitions, collections, and educational programming, engages in transformative conversations, and fosters strong community connections.
RESIDENCY PERIOD: January – August 2026
RESIDENCY DESCRIPTION:
- Studio and exhibit space in a designated museum gallery (approximately 1480 square feet). The residency does not include living accommodations.
- An exhibition at RAM developed in collaboration with the museum curator and open to the public May – August 2026; it is anticipated that the artist will work in the space for 4-8 weeks during this period.
- Artist will create new work, experiment with ideas, or develop a project while in residence. The museum reserves the right to select an art piece for its collection.
- Artists will be expected to engage with the public through open studio hours, workshops, talks, community events, public programs or other happenings at mutually agreed upon times.
- $18,000 stipend plus materials and exhibition budget
ELIGIBILITY: Artists who have roots in the Inland Empire. We welcome applications from individual artists or collaboratives working in all media and at various stages of their careers. Artists must have the availability to spend time on-site.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Please submit the following materials via email to [email protected]:
- 10 images of current work (JPEG format, 72 dpi, maximum 2MB each)
- Artist statement in alignment with project (500 words maximum) including ties to the Inland
- Empire.
- Biography (one paragraph)
- Current resume/CV
- Contact information
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 1, 2026
Application Fee: None
Selection: Finalists will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals and artists to discuss their proposal concept.
Successful candidate will be notified January 2026
For questions regarding the residency program, please contact Lisa Henry at 951-323-8243
This program is generously supported by
Riverside Art Museum Board of Trustees’ debut inaugural scholarship via Dollars for Scholars for a Greater Riverside High School graduate. RAM is excited to celebrate Klassic Willow Taylor as the first recipient of this scholarship.
Klassic Willow Taylor is a graduating senior from Valley View High School in Moreno Valley. With a 4.4 GPA, Klassic is an award-winning artist (second place in the Riverside County Fair art exhibition and honorable mention in the MVUSD art exhibition) who plans to study at CSUN. She is very involved in her school and active in Girls Against Violence and Circle of Friends. The Riverside Art Museum is proud to support Klassic in her pursuit of higher education!
Learn more about the RAM/Cheech Scholarship
The RAM/ Cheech Scholarship is intended to award $2,500 to a graduating senior to assist with college tuition. If awarded, the scholarship payment would be issued, upon proof of registration, to the university or college the graduating senior attends to be used toward tuition.
The Basic Criteria for the RAM/ Cheech Scholarship include: (1) minimum 2.5 g.p.a.; (2) committed to art or art-related study; (3) engaged w/ local art community (preferred); (4) from a community that is historically underrepresented in the arts (preferred); (5) have a portfolio of visual art (10-pages, if possible).
Please check back for updates on next year’s scholarship application.