DCAC Must Close Doors to Youth Program

Although I have not been a participant of this program (planned to bring my little brother soon), I know the heart of it's organizers is nothing but pure and good so it was very sad to see this email today:

It is with a heavy heart that I share the following message from our executive director, Stephanie Pearl, on the closure of DCAC.  I want to thank each and every one of you for coming to art workshops as a student, volunteer, visitor, and observer.  My life has been enriched by the experience of DCAC and by all the wonderful people who have been a passed through its doors.  I will miss you all!

 

Regretfully, Downtown Community Arts Collective is forced to suspend their Youth Arts Program indefinitely effective Sunday, July 10, 2011.  Due to the poor state of the economy, we are unable to generate enough revenue to support our Youth Program.  DCAC’s Youth Arts Program depended solely on private and corporate donations as well as community partnerships.

Unfortunately the money just isn’t there, and to avoid any further debt, dcac has been forced to cut the youth program and reinvent themselves.  Dcac resident artists, Stephanie Pearl and Andrew Watrous will continue to maintain studio space at 754 P Street.  The front half of the building will be occupied by a photography studio and the back half will be Downtown Community Arts Collective Studios. Dcac artists in residence will continue to open their studios for the first Thursday art-hop and plan to explore small venue shows such as experimental music, poetry, and performance art.

It’s been an amazing three year run with our Youth Arts Program.  We have watched kids and young adults come and go; many of them taking ownership of something for the first time in their lives. Some youth said dcac was the only place they felt free to be themselves.   We’ve seen youth who say “I can’t” transform into a formidable artistic talent.  We’ve cried for the ones who have left the program for both good and bad reasons and we’ve cased city streets looking for others who have run away from their homes.  We have given all we had to these community youth just to see them smile and say something positive.  My heart is broken, but we just can’t get on our feet.

Please forward this message to anyone who I have missed and who would want to know.

 

Again, THANK YOU for the terrific ride.-- 

Monica Joy Henry

Youth Arts Program Director/Photographer

Downtown Community Arts Collective (dcac)

754 'P' Street, Fresno, CA  93721

(559) 284-2276 ~ www.dcacfresno.org