jaygfranco.com

B.A.G. Fund

Mission

The Barrio Arts Grants Fund aims to foster an inclusive, creative ecosystem by empowering young artists in Sacramento with foundational support through micro-grants, skill-building opportunities, and community activations.

Inspiration

The Barrio Arts Grants Fund was established in 2024, inspired by the legacy of the Barrio Arts Program and the Royal Chicano Air Force’s impact on the Sacramento arts community. The program required university students to go out into the community, including senior centers and high schools to teach art courses and host community events. This exchange birthed a concept they named "comuniversity" - as an important collaborative effort between education, community, and culture.

Purpose

We look to build a sustainable path for artists to flourish because we understand that a thriving creative ecosystem is essential to combating the cycle of poverty and isolation that many artists face, hence the “starving artist” motif. By supporting young artists, we can proactively address issues such as youth violence and chronic absenteeism in school while fostering a sense of community ownership and pride. Ultimately, the goal is to create safe, creative spaces and opportunities.

In addition, access to the arts has proven benefits for cognitive function, mood control, motor skills, self-esteem, and emotional growth. For students who face daily challenges and stressors, arts access can also offer a crucial outlet and a sense of relief. Individuals may even begin to process their physical and emotional trauma, offering a form of healing. With depression and suicide rates at record highs, opportunity for expression is crucial in the development of our youth as it can increase positive interactions and human connectedness.

The Barrio Arts Grants Fund recognizes the therapeutic power of art and we believe art has the power to challenge societal norms, build empathy, and drive social change.

California’s state-mandated arts standard requires access to comprehensive arts education from grades 1st-12th. However, the reality often falls short, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives like the Barrio Arts Grants Fund to help fill the gaps to access by providing resources to young creatives. According to the Create CA’s Arts Education Data Project, Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) had a student-to-art-teacher ratio of about 208:1, compared to the state average of 165:1 (2021).

Despite recent investments from Prop 28 Arts Education Funding for Schools, many school sites are using these funds to replace rather than supplement and expand their budgets, exacerbating inequities in arts education. This disproportionately affects students of color and those from low-income families, limiting their access to creative opportunities and perpetuating economic disparities.

By providing access to arts resources and empowering young artists in Sacramento, we dream to see an environment where creativity leads to innovation and growth for generations to come.

Grant Rubric & Submission Form [COMING SOON]

Annual theme will be selected and updated via a Google form. Grantees will be selected & announced on a monthly basis.

Young Artist Resources & Support

Local Arts Resources

Office of Arts and Culture - City of Sacramento

Additional Partner Resources - City of Sacramento

Learn & Record Music - The Creation District

Learn Music & Podcast Production for Free - Department of Sound Sacramento

Free Art Supply Closet - Broad Room Creative Collective (Appointment Only)

Free Magazines at the Book Den - Friends of the Sacramento Library

Youth Mental Health Resources - Youth Help Network

State of California Arts Resources