With Arts Connection - The Art Council of San Bernardino County
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May is here, and with it comes a season full of movement, creativity, and community across San Bernardino County. In this issue of the AC Digest, we’re sharing highlights from recent advocacy and community events, updates on Inland Film Festival submissions, upcoming workshops and exhibitions, and new opportunities for artists, students, and community members to get involved. From downtown activations to outdoor creative experiences, this month reflects the many ways arts and culture continue bringing people together across the region.
As always, this issue is about staying connected, sharing what’s possible, and continuing to build the cultural life of our region together.
Alejandro Gutierrez
Executive Director, Arts Council of San Bernardino County
Advocacy in Action: Arts & Culture Summit Recap
Arts Connection had the opportunity to join artists, advocates, and organizations from across the state at the 4th annual Arts & Culture Summit and Arts Advocacy Day in Sacramento, hosted by California for the Arts and California Arts Advocates. The Summit created space for critical conversations around arts funding, policy, and the role of creativity in shaping strong, connected communities.
Throughout the event, we heard from leaders and changemakers including Julie Baker, Luis Valdez, Antoine Hunter, and Ash Hanson, and joined meetings with legislators to advocate for increased investment in the arts, including $50 million in funding for the California Arts Council and the reinstatement of the Performing Arts Equitable Funding program. These efforts reinforce that arts and culture are not optional, they are essential infrastructure for communities across San Bernardino County and California.
This year also included a full-circle moment with student advocates Hannah and Alexa, artists and students at Cal State San Bernardino who founded Arts Advocates on campus. They joined us to experience advocacy at the state level firsthand, participated in conversations with lawmakers, connecting what they’re building locally to broader statewide efforts and bringing that knowledge back to their campus community.
We left the Summit feeling energized, aligned, and ready to keep pushing this work forward. Appreciation to our regional partners and colleagues who showed up alongside us, including the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, Redlands Symphony, Riverside Arts Council, and many others committed to advancing the creative economy across the Inland Empire.
DTSB Art Walk Recap: March Highlights & June Up Next!
Downtown San Bernardino was the place to be on March 27th as Arts Connection, in collaboration with Sole Alley and local downtown businesses, hosted a DTSB Art Walk in celebration of Women’s History Month. The evening brought together artists, musicians, vendors, and community members for a night full of energy with live painting with artist Morgan Blake Turner, hands on art activities provided by our Arts Avenue teaching artist Emily Kopacz, and booths filled with handmade artwork. Performances from Glitter Ghost and a live Dj Márii carried the energy throughout the night while artists created in real time, turning the alley into an active, shared creative space. Surrounding businesses kept their doors open, adding to the momentum as people moved between storefronts and the alley, and even after the event wrapped, many stayed, talking, connecting, and lingering in the moment a little longer.
Students from Norton Science and Language Academy participated both on stage and behind the scenes through a creative workforce development component focused on professional development and career pathways in the arts and creative industries. Poetry Out Loud students served as emcees and open mic facilitators, while The Cosmonauts journalism group documented the event through interviews, photography, and media coverage. Students gained hands-on experience in public speaking, journalism, media production, storytelling, and live event operations, strengthening exposure to real-world creative career pathways within Downtown San Bernardino’s arts and culture ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the next Downtown San Bernardino Art Walk returns on Friday, June 26th from 5 to 9 PM with a Pride Month celebration that brings community together through art, music, and real connection. Expect a night full of life, with artists, performers, and vendors showing up and sharing what they do best. If March set the tone, June is only going bigger, with a crowd that stays late, a downtown that stays active, and a community that shows up for each other. You can read more about the March Art Walk from The Cosmonaut
Submissions for the Inland Film Festival (IFF) 2026 are officially open from May 1 through June 30! Now in its third year, IFF continues to grow as a platform for storytellers across the Inland Empire and beyond, connecting creative talent to real opportunities in film and media.
We’re accepting a wide range of work, including live action fiction, documentary, animation, music videos, experimental films, and pilot episodes, along with dedicated student categories to support emerging filmmakers at every level. Filmmakers can submit through FilmFreeway, where you’ll find full details on categories, submission guidelines, fees, and award opportunities.
Selected films will be featured during the Inland Film Festival in October 2026, alongside industry events, and networking opportunities designed to support career pathways and regional storytelling.
California Individual Artists Fellowship — Apply Soon!
Application Close May 15th!
Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County is proud to partner with the California Arts Council, Arts Orange County, and the Riverside Arts Council to help launch the California Individual Artists Fellowship (IAF) program for Region VII, serving Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
The program provides unrestricted fellowship awards of $5,000, $10,000, and $50,000 to support artists and culture bearers across all artistic disciplines.
The application deadline is Friday, May 15th, 2026. If you are an artist or culture bearer living in Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino County, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Permanent Sketching: Visual Development with Watercolor Sketching
Thursday, May 7th | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Estudio Aire | 468 W 5th Street, 1st Floor, Room 102 San Bernardino, CA 92402
Join our current artist-in-residence, Ricardo Corona, for Permanent Sketching, a hands-on workshop that builds on ideas from The Mood Board Room. Participants will use mood boards as a starting point to create quick watercolor sketches while learning more about how visual environments are developed for film and animation. No prior attendance is required, just come ready to explore and experiment.
After the workshop, stick around for an Inland Film Festival networking mixer. It’s a chance to connect, share ideas, and talk about all things animation and film in a relaxed, community-focused space.
Arts Avenue Student Exhibition Returns for Year 5!
Opening Reception on Friday, May 8th | 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Closing Reception on Friday, May 29th | 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Páxám Páxám Welcome Center | 746 N E St. San Bernardino, CA 92410
The school year is wrapping up, which means it’s time for Arts Avenue’s 5th annual End of the Year Student Art Exhibition. This showcase highlights the creativity and growth of students across the program, featuring work developed through hands-on arts learning experiences throughout the year.
This year, we’re partnering with Expanded Learning to host the exhibition at the new Páxám Páxám Welcome Center, creating space to share student artwork across mediums, including visual art and film. The exhibition will also include interactive elements and workshops designed for the community to engage directly with the creative process.
Join us for the opening reception on May 8, 2026 from 4:30 to 7:00 PM, and the closing reception on May 29, 2026 from 4:30 to 7:00 PM at the Páxám Páxám Welcome Center, 746 N E St, San Bernardino. More details on programming will be shared soon.
Designing Partemsianos: Developing a Visual Narrative
Saturday, March 28th | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Estudio Aire | 468 W 5th Street, 1st Floor, Room 102 San Bernardino, CA 92402
Designing Partemsianos: Developing a Visual Narrative presents new visual development work created during Ricardo Corona’s residency at Estudio Aire. The work focuses on the next narrative scene of his ongoing project Partemsianos, titled Desmadre en Batalla.
Featuring keyframe illustrations, prop designs, callouts, color studies, background paintings, character designs, and creature explorations, the exhibition offers insight into Ricardo’s evolving world-building and visual storytelling process for Partemsianos.
New work developed during the residency are presented alongside selected materials created between 2021 and 2025, tracing the expanding visual language of Partemsianos.
Oak Glen Preserve | 39611 Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399
Arts Connection is proud to partner with TreePeople through our Arts in the Park initiative to support the organization’s Outdoor Equity Field Trip program, connecting community members with nature through exploration, learning, and creative engagement. Each trip pairs a guided outdoor experience with an artist-led workshop designed to encourage reflection and connection to the land. This month’s featured field trip takes place at Oak Glen Preserve on Saturday, May 30, and includes a collaborative collage postcard workshop led by Inland Empire artist educator Zaida Ruby Lagunas. Participants of all ages will explore scenic trails, engage with local ecosystems, and create artwork using natural materials and handmade paper in response to prompts about the environment and personal experience. Free transportation and lunch will be provided, with departure from The Garcia Center for the Arts. Registration is free through TreePeople.
Breezeway + Sole Alley | 479 W 4th St, San Bernardino, CA
This Pride Month, the Downtown San Bernardino Art Walk returns with a focus on uplifting and celebrating the ongoing contributions of LGBTQIA+ artists and communities. Taking place in the Breezeway and Sole Alley, the evening will feature local art, creative vendors, food, and live experiences that center community, expression, and visibility.
We’re currently inviting artists, makers, and food vendors to apply and be part of the event. Whether you’re showcasing work, selling goods, or sharing your craft, this is a space to connect, celebrate, and show up for the community.
With Arts Connection - The Art Council of San Bernardino County
We're dedicated to fostering a vibrant creative community, supporting arts education, and advocating for cultural equity across our region. Join us in shaping a county where everyone has access to inspiring cultural experiences. Subscribe to our newsletters and stay connected!
