SACRAMENTO–Partner Screening: UNITED SKATES
2023-07-20 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814, United States
SACRAMENTO–Back by popular demand, the Crocker Museum is proud to partner once again with California Humanities to present three films that tell compelling stories rooted in the Golden State. Expanding on subjects like collective action, identity, immigration, and art as activism that are present in the exhibitions Estampas de La Raza: Contemporary Prints from the Romo Collection and Royal Chicano Air Force, A Gathering: Works from ‘Contemporary Black American Ceramic Artists,’ and Breaking the Rules: Paul Wonner and Theophilus Brown, this film series explores the power of bike riding, roller skating, and music in a manner that is both substantively thought-provoking and entertaining.
Each screening is introduced by John Lightfoot of California Humanities. A Q&A with the filmmakers or subjects will follow select screenings.
UNITED SKATES, Directed by Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown
Runtime: 89 Minutes
Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 6:30 pm

Location: The Crocker Museum | 216 O Street | Sacramento, CA 95814
Discover a bastion of regional African-American subculture, music, and dance in United Skates, a documentary that highlights a racially-charged battle to save an underground subculture as America’s last standing roller rinks are threatened with closure.
For more information and tickets, visit https://my.crockerart.org/1134/1172
This project is supported by a California Documentary Project Grant.

FORT BRAGG–Magic Lantern Screening
2023-07-22 20:00 - 22:00 | Larry Spring Museum, 225 E Redwood Avenue, Fort Bragg, 95437
Magic Lantern Screening at the Larry Spring Museum
Salon de Physique & Relict: A Phantasmagoria
Saturday, July 22, 2023 | 8 pm PT
Cost: $10 (no one turned away due to lack of funds)
Address: 225 E Redwood Avenue, Fort Bragg 95437

Supported by a 2023 California Humanities For All Project Grant, The Larry Spring Museum kicks off their project Redwood Time with artist Melissa Ferrari. In residency at the Larry Spring Museum, Ferrari will create a site-specific adaptation of a Phantasmagoria Salon de Physique (or “Physics Parlor”) that will feature an evening of animation experiments, installation work, and a magic lantern expanded cinema performance at the Larry Spring Museum. This Salon de Physique will be a series of experiments – an animated cabinet of curiosities and magic lantern projections – prioritizing expositions of the preternatural in the local environment. Rooted in the curatorial philosophy of Redwood Time, the animations will seek local rhythms and ecologies that fall outside of conventional systems of value, time, and scale. Historically, the intent of the Salon de Physique was to magnify the space between the natural world and the supernatural through the wonder of science spectacle, shaking the participants’ foundations in what is “real” and “rational” in a playground for Natural Philosophy.
Artist bio:
Melissa Ferrari is a nonfiction filmmaker, experimental animator, magic lanternist and educator who seeks to acquaint folklores of the past with contemporary culture. In exposing peripheral histories, she aims to unveil the wonder that lies in the shadow of nonfiction, rather than fiction. Originally from Virginia, Melissa is now based in Los Angeles where she received an Experimental Animation M.F.A. from CalArts. Her films and magic lantern performances have been shown internationally in venues such as Hot Docs, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Ann Arbor Film Festival, and Hauser & Wirth LA.

About Redwood Time:
Redwood Time is a multi-disciplinary project that encourages us to re-evaluate the dominant narratives of settlement and resource development along the northern Californian coast. Through creative exploration and reflection, we will produce a collaborative account of Fort Bragg that reflects formerly excluded local histories and worldviews, providing us with a richer understanding of the past we inherit and the territory we inhabit.
The central object of our reflection is a timeline affixed to the commemorative redwood round that has dominated our downtown center since its dedication in 1943. As with similar redwood rounds, Fort Bragg’s public memorial and timeline privileges linear time as the driver of history and naturalizes far-flung Euro- and human-centric events as the default approach to understanding our past and presence here in Fort Bragg.
Over the next two years, “Redwood Time” will unfold as a focused series of live performances, public art installations, and community gatherings designed to generate new understandings of our relationship to our shared geography. Together we will create an empathic and nuanced counter-narrative that will draw into question our inherited notions of individuality. Our activities will culminate in the creation of reimagined versions of the round and a new legend that reveals our messy and vital connectedness.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

OAKLAND–Exhibit: The Audacity to Believe
2023-07-31 - 2023-11-30 | African American Museum and Library, 659 14th Street, Oakland, 94612, United States
OAKLAND- Come experience “The Audacity to Believe”, a tribute to the life, legacy, and impact of an Oakland giant: Dr. Marcus A. Foster, the urban education activist and superhero who gave his life for the children of Oakland.
Dr. Marcus A. Foster was the definition of a community superhero. The first Black Superintendent of any major school system in the United States: Oakland Unified, he was a trailblazer whose life was cut short in 1973 due to his courage to bring innovation and accountability to the school system. He encouraged and challenged teachers and administrators to have “the audacity to believe” in the inherent talents of all young people, and pioneered a “Master Plan Citizens Committee” tasking each neighborhood of the city to draw up their community-led visions as part of the district’s strategic plan. His dedication to youth and community made him a fierce advocate and beloved leader. As a teacher who began her first year during his tenure shared, his presence and work made it so “We knew we were on our way to excellence.” His assassination cut that work short and left a community in mourning. Curated by local artist and storyteller Patanisha Williams as part of the Marcus Foster Education Institute’s 50th anniversary celebratory events, “The Audacity to Believe” pays tribute to his life and impact, and creates a long-needed space for the community to remember and heal.
On view: July 31 – November 30 2023
Location: The historic African American Museum and Library of Oakland is located at 659 14th Street, Oakland. The Museum and Library wheelchair accessible and is open and free to the public at the following hours:
Monday – Thursday 10 am – 5:30 pm
Friday 12 pm – 5:30 pm
Saturday 10 am – 5:30 pm
For more information, visit: https://www.marcusfoster.org/events/audacity-to-believe-exhibit
The Marcus Foster Education Institute (MFEI) was established by Dr. Marcus A. Foster in 1973 prior to his passing. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of MFEI and our work engaging community to see improved conditions, experiences, and outcomes for K-12 and postsecondary BIPOC and first-generation students. To learn more about MFEI, visit www.marcusfoster.org. For more information about the exhibit, contact info@marcusfoster.org.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Quick Grant.

OAKLAND–The Audacity to Believe Opening Reception
2023-08-03 17:00 - 19:00 | African American Museum and Library, 659 14th Street, Oakland, 94612, United States
OAKLAND- The Marcus Foster Education Institute invites you to celebrate the opening reception for “The Audacity to Believe”, a tribute to the life, legacy and impact of an Oakland giant: Dr. Marcus A. Foster, the urban education activist and superhero who gave his life for the children of Oakland. This free event will include live music, wine and hors d’oeuvres, and a conversation with local education advocate Oscar Wright, MFEI Board Member Vance Lewis and community leader and visionary Regina Jackson.
Dr. Marcus A. Foster was the definition of a community superhero. The first Black Superintendent of any major school system in the United States: Oakland Unified, he was a trailblazer whose life was cut short in 1973 due to his courage to bring innovation and accountability to the school system. He encouraged and challenged teachers and administrators to have “the audacity to believe” in the inherent talents of all young people, and pioneered a “Master Plan Citizens Committee” tasking each neighborhood of the city to draw up their community-led visions as part of the district’s strategic plan. His dedication to youth and community made him a fierce advocate and beloved leader. As a teacher who began her first year during his tenure shared, his presence and work made it so “We knew we were on our way to excellence.” His assassination cut that work short and left a community in mourning. Curated by local artist and storyteller Patanisha Williams as part of the Marcus Foster Education Institute’s 50th anniversary celebratory events, “The Audacity to Believe” pays tribute to his life and impact, and creates a long-needed space for the community to remember and heal.
On view: July 31 – November 30 2023
Location: The historic African American Museum and Library of Oakland is located at 659 14th Street, Oakland. The Museum and Library wheelchair accessible and is open and free to the public at the following hours:
Monday – Thursday 10 am – 5:30 pm
Friday 12 pm – 5:30 pm
Saturday 10 am – 5:30 pm
Register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reset-vol-viii-youth-showcase-the-audacity-to-believe-opening-reception-tickets-678024929817
The Marcus Foster Education Institute (MFEI) was established by Dr. Marcus A. Foster in 1973 prior to his passing. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of MFEI and our work engaging community to see improved conditions, experiences, and outcomes for K-12 and postsecondary BIPOC and first-generation students. To learn more about MFEI, visit www.marcusfoster.org. For more information about the exhibit, contact info@marcusfoster.org.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Quick Grant.

SANTA CRUZ–Exhibit: Contemporary Indigenous Voices of California’s South Coast Range
2023-08-17 - 2023-08-27 | Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
SANTA CRUZ—Contemporary Indigenous Voices of California’s South Coast Range: Enduring Relationships with the Land is a project featuring a traveling exhibit of photography and short film interviews, presented as in-person events with presentations, demonstrations, and discussions. It explores tribes’ land-based culture, cultural restoration, the perspectives of elders and youth, and barriers to cultural expression in the modern world.

Photographer and documentarian Kirti Bassendine is leading this traveling exhibit, part of a project to interview and document tribal participants from the 10 tribal groups from the ancestral homeland of the Ohlone territories from California’s South Coast Ranges. It weaves together still photography, narrative storyboards, and short films that will be presented as an exhibition/event with in-person presentations and demonstrations.
Its first opening will be the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) (Amah Mutsun territory) and will focus on this region, Amah Mutsun, Indian Canyon Nation, Salinan Tribe of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties,and Esselen Tribe of Monterey County.
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | 705 Front Street, Downtown Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Runs: August 17-27, 2023
Panel discussion and cultural demonstrations: August 19, 2-6 pm

Learn more and purchase tickets at MAH’s website.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

SACRAMENTO–Partner Screening: OVARIAN PSYCHOS
2023-08-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814, United States
SACRAMENTO–Back by popular demand, the Crocker Museum is proud to partner once again with California Humanities to present three films that tell compelling stories rooted in the Golden State. Expanding on subjects like collective action, identity, immigration, and art as activism that are present in the exhibitions Estampas de La Raza: Contemporary Prints from the Romo Collection and Royal Chicano Air Force, A Gathering: Works from ‘Contemporary Black American Ceramic Artists,’ and Breaking the Rules: Paul Wonner and Theophilus Brown, this film series explores the power of bike riding, roller skating, and music in a manner that is both substantively thought-provoking and entertaining.
Each screening is introduced by John Lightfoot of California Humanities. A Q&A with the filmmakers or subjects will follow select screenings.
OVARIAN PSYCHOS (2016), Directed by Joanna Sokolowski and Kate Trumbull-LaValle
Runtime: 72 Minutes
Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 6:30 pm

Location: The Crocker Museum | 216 O Street | Sacramento, CA 95814
Meet a new generation of fierce, feminist women of color from the Eastside of Los Angeles through personal stories shared by members of the raucous and irreverently-named bicycle crew, The Ovarian Psycos Cycle Brigade.
For more information and tickets, visit https://my.crockerart.org/1134/1173
This project is supported by a California Documentary Project Grant.

SAN FRANCISCO–HOME IS A HOTEL theatrical premiere
2023-08-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Roxie Theater San Francisco, 3117 16th Street, San Francisco, 94103
Winner of Documentary Feature Award & Audience Award at the 2023 SFFILM Festival!
SAN FRANCISCO–You are invited to theatrical premiere of HOME IS A HOTEL on Thursday, August 17, at 6:30 pm PT, at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco.
From within the walls of their 80 sqft SRO hotel rooms, a diverse group of San Franciscans strive against systemic forces and a housing crisis with hope and humor in their search for a place to call home.
A loving newly single mother in Chinatown, a blind Latina librettist fighting harassment and eviction, an ex-couple in recovery and co-parenting a 6-year-old son, a spirited graffiti artist ambivalent about painting murals for the tech companies moving into his neighborhood, and a determined mother on a quest to find her runaway daughter while raising a toddler. Through these stories, filmed over 5 years, this character-driven, verité documentary immerses viewers in what it means to call a single room home in one of America’s wealthiest cities.
Thursday, August 17, 2023 | 6:30 pm PT
Roxie Theater | 3125 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
**Q&A with filmmakers Kevin Duncan Wong, Todd Sills, Kar Yin Tham and subjects after the screening!
Tickets can be purchased through the Roxie website: https://roxie.com/film/home-is-a-hotel/
This film is supported by a California Documentary Project Grant.

SANTA CRUZ–Exhibit Opening Reception: Contemporary Indigenous Voices of California’s South Coast Range
2023-08-19 14:00 - 17:00 | Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
SANTA CRUZ—Contemporary Indigenous Voices of California’s South Coast Range: Enduring Relationships with the Land is a project featuring a traveling exhibit of photography and short film interviews, presented as in-person events with presentations, demonstrations, and discussions. It explores tribes’ land-based culture, cultural restoration, the perspectives of elders and youth, and barriers to cultural expression in the modern world.
Its first opening will be the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) (Amah Mutsun territory) and will focus on this region, Amah Mutsun, Indian Canyon Nation, Salinan Tribe of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties, and Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. Join the opening reception on August 19, from 2-6 pm, where project participants will share their stories and hold a Q&A panel discussion around issues raised by the exhibit.

Photographer and documentarian Kirti Bassendine is leading this traveling exhibit, part of a project to interview and document tribal participants from the 10 tribal groups from the ancestral homeland of the Ohlone territories from California’s South Coast Ranges. It weaves together still photography, narrative storyboards, and short films that will be presented as an exhibition/event with in-person presentations and demonstrations.
Where: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | 705 Front Street, Downtown Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Panel discussion and cultural demonstrations: Saturday, August 19, 2-5 pm
Exhibit runs: August 17-27, 2023
Free and open to the public!

Learn more and purchase tickets at MAH’s website.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

SAN JOSE–Closing reception and artist panel: Queer Threads
2023-08-19 15:30 - 19:00 | San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, 520 South 1st Street, San Jose, California, 95113, United States
SAN JOSE- To commemorate the closing of Queer Threads, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles invites you to a reception and artists talk on Saturday, August 19. Featured artists Craig Calderwood, dani lopez, and Richard-Jonathan Nelson will discuss their work and join guest moderator Elena Gross (Co-Director, Berkeley Art Center) for a conversation on how queerness informs their unique approaches to fiber and textile art.Free with museum admission.
Queer Threads – Closing reception and artist talk
When: Saturday, August 19, 2023
Turner, Gilliland, Finlayson and Porcella Galleries – San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
CLOSING ARTIST PANEL 3:30 pm to 5 pmCLOSING RECEPTION5 pm to 7 pm
About the exhibition: Queer Threads is a traveling group exhibition and coffee-table book exploring contemporary lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer experiences through fiber and textile traditions.
This latest iteration of the 2014 exhibition at the Leslie-Lohman Museum in NYC spotlights 35 artists with roots in the American West, Northwest, and Southwest, as well as work from the museum’s collection. From the impeccably finished to the intentionally raw, many works are fully executed through thread-based processes such as crochet, embroidery, quilting, and weaving, while others interact with animation, clay, light, metal, and photography. Each artist’s use of material choices and technical finishes suggest poetic and subversive intentions.
Although all of the featured artists are LGBTQ-identified or allies, not all of the content explicitly is—and that’s perfectly queer in this context. By breaking through binaries of art and craft, male and female, gay and straight and beyond, the exhibition embraces differences and encourages experimental approaches to hand and machine textile practices.
For more information, visit https://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

OPEN—California Documentary Grants
2023-08-31 - 2023-09-01 | CA, United States
Image: Stills from CDP projects Song of Salt, MIJA, Sansón and Me, Fanny: The Right to Rock.
DEADLINE—Are you a mediamaker working on a California story? We invite applications for the next round of California Documentary Project (CDP) grants in support of film, audio, or digital media projects that document California subjects and issues; use the humanities to provide context, depth, and perspective; and have the potential to reach and engage audiences statewide and nationally through multiple means.
Funding is available in two categories:

Research and Development Grants up to $15,000 (new amount for 2023)
Production Grants up to $50,000

Applications open September 1, 2023. This year’s application deadline is Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 5 pm PT.
Register HERE for a free CDP grant application informational webinar on September 13 at 10-11 am PDT.
Visit the California Documentary Project grants page for guidelines, application instructions, a list of previously awarded projects, and to register for a free informational webinar. Click HERE to apply.
For more information, contact Director of Media & Journalism Programs, John Lightfoot at jlightfoot@calhum.org.

OPEN—Humanities for All Quick Grant
2023-08-31 - 2023-09-01 | CA, United States
Image: Stills from Humanities For All Quick Grant projects Chapter 510, 1947 Partition Archive, Geographies of Kinship, UCI PrisonPandemic.
DEADLINE—Attention public humanities programmers! Do you have an idea for a public-facing humanities project you would like to implement within the next year? Do you need funds to carry out a plan you’ve already developed? Our next application round for Humanities for All Quick Grants opens on September 1, 2023. Start the process by reviewing the Quick Grants homepage with an eye to the Guidelines and FAQs to learn more. Applications are due October 2, 2023.
Quick Grants (between $1,000 and $5,000) are awarded three times a year to small-scale public humanities programs and projects which take place within one year from the award date. Appropriate formats include but are not limited to community dialogues, reading (or film) and discussion groups, oral history or nonfiction writing or story-sharing workshops, and other types of activities. Any California-based nonprofit organization or non-federal public agency is eligible to apply. Note: A cash or in-kind match of the award is NOT required.
On September 7, 2023 at 11am PT, California Humanities will host a free informational webinar on how to develop your application. Please register here in advance.
If you have any questions, contact Lucena Lau Valle at lvalle@calhum.org.

HAYWARD–Hidden Garden: A Japanese American Family’s Offer of Friendship Honors Culture and Beauty in 20th-Century Hayward
2023-09-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Hayward Public Library, 888 C Street, Hayward, 94541, United States
HAYWARD-Join a series of community conversations about how Hayward histories shape our lives today. Each conversation will feature individuals who made history through sustained local action and community work.
The Shibata family garden and tea house in Hayward were designed by Zenjuro and Koyuri Shibata. Koyuri, who descended from a long line of Buddhist ministers in Japan, drew upon her religious sensibilities to define the garden’s structure and meanings. Many Haywardians attended events hosted in the garden before and after World War II, a garden which still exists today near Highway 92. The Shibata family garden and tea house are a unique Hayward home, one that tells a story about family, community, and culture. This conversation provides context for understanding this historic site’s origins and its 80-year evolution.
Community Panel: Hidden Garden: A Japanese American Family’s Offer
of Friendship Honors Culture and Beauty in 20th-Century Hayward
Friday, September 8, 2023, 3:00-4:30pm
Fremont Bank Room at the Hayward Public Library
888 C Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Light refreshments will be served. This series is free to the public. Parking in city lots next to the library is free of charge.
For more information, go to haywardhistory.org or contact Dr. Bridget Ford, 510-885-3207, bridget.ford@csueastbay.edu.
Image by Photo by Chris Lawton via Unsplash.

This project is supported by a Humanities for All Quick Grant.

LOS ANGELES–Art Workshop for Never Forget Exhibition
2023-09-09 13:00 - 16:00 | Robinson SPACE, 4308 Burns Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90029, United States
LOS ANGELES—Join an interactive art-making workshop centering and building on the UCLA Asian American Studies Center’s digital exhibition Never Forget: Filipinx Americans and the Philippines Anti- Martial Law Movement. Artist Mae Decena will lead an art-making process and, with scholars and activists, provide the historical and social contexts of the transnational anti-martial movement and shed light on continuing struggle that links the movement and the contemporary struggles of the people of the Philippines. The event is held in preparation for the 51st anniversary of Ferdinand E. Marcos’ martial law declaration on September 21.
In-person participation is limited, RSVP required: https://bit.ly/NeverForgetRSVP
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm PT
Venue: Robinson SPACE (4308 Burns Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029)
Cost: FREE
Speakers: Cathy Miraballes (Migrante Los Angeles); Professor Josen Diaz (USD; Asian Solidarity Collective); Professor Joy Sales (Cal State LA; Malaya Movement USA)
Artist Facilitator: Mae Decena
Community Co-Sponsors: Robinson SPACE, Polo’s Pantry
Student Organization Co-Sponsors: UCLA SPEAR; UCLA SPACE; UCLA PTSP; UCLA SCPASA; UCSD Kaibigang Pilipin@; FUSO (Filipino Ugnayan Student Organization); UCLA Anakbayan.
Organizer: UCLA Asian American Studies Center
Never Forget is a digital exhibition of political posters and oral histories chronicling the transnational Anti-Martial Law Movement of the Philippines. This permanent digital collection highlights the Filipinx American community’s participation in the transnational struggle for human rights and democracy in response to the Ferdinand E. Marcos regime (1965 to 1986). Featuring a significant moment in the history of one of the largest Asian American ethnic groups in California, Never Forget aims to strengthen intergenerational connections within the community as it builds broader understandings of shared experiences and solidarities toward a more just future.
Read our May 2023 blog interview with project directors Lucy Burns and Karen Umemoto: https://calhum.org/apa-heritage-month-never-forget-ucla/
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

FRESNO–Youth Voices screening
2023-09-09 14:00 - 17:00 | Maya Cinemas, 3090 East Campus Pointe Drive, Fresno, California, 93710
Celebrating the Power of Youth Voices in Cinema
FRESNO–Mark your calendars for this upcoming showcase with young mediamakers supported by our CDP NextGen grant program! Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC) has announced the 4th annual screening of Youth Voices documentaries, with this year’s cohort composed of local junior high and high school students. Each were guided through a comprehensive 10-week training program that included topics such as media literacy, idea generation, script writing, field production, audio production, editing, and post-production, and subsequently produced their own documentary films focusing on issues relevant to the Central Valley with the guidance of CMAC staff. Topics include immigration, bullying, teens and vaping, redlining, and more.
Saturday, September 9, 2023 | 2 pm PT
Maya Cinemas | 3090 East Campus Pointe Drive, Fresno, CA 93710
**Q&A with filmmakers after the screening!
RSVP for free here: https://bit.ly/44mDJRg
CMAC Youth Voices is supported by California Humanities through our CDP NextGen program.

WEBINAR—California Humanities Grantseeker Workshop
2023-09-11 11:00 - 12:00 | CA, United States
WEBINAR—California Humanities invites you to attend a free informational session about funding opportunities for humanities programming in California. Join us Monday, September 11 at 11 am PT on Zoom; to attend, register here. Program staff will give an overview of our current grant programs: Humanities For All Grants (Quick Grants and Project Grants), California Documentary Project Grants, Civics + Humanities Middle Grades Grants and the Library Innovation Lab Grants Program. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and connect with program officers.

Grant
Next Deadline
Information

California Documentary Project
November 1, 2024
Here

Civics + Humanities Middle Grades Grants
TBA
Here

Humanities for All Quick Grants
October 2, 2023
Here

Humanities for All Project Grants
January 16, 2024
Here

Library Innovation Lab
February 1, 2024
Here

CDP NextGen
September 15, 2024
Here

If you have questions or need help accessing the webinar, contact Kirsten Vega at kvega@calhum.org.
California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, promotes the humanities as relevant, meaningful ways to understand the human condition and connect us to each other in order to help strengthen California. For more than 40 years, California Humanities has awarded over $30 million in grants across the state, reaching every Congressional district. To learn more follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SAN BERNARDINO–Afro-Latinx Carnival
2023-09-12 12:00 - 15:00 | Cal State San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, 92407
SAN BERNARDINO—Join the CSUSB Afróntalo exhibition for a celebration of Afro-LatinX culture and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through engaging cultural experiences, community connection, and new exhibitions. This free event will have two captivating stages, including a special performance by renowned headliner, Las Cafeteras.
Where: California State University, San Bernardino | Coyote Walk | 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407
About the Afróntalo exhibit:
One in four Latin Americans has African ancestry. And yet, there is a general deficit of knowledge regarding the presence and prevalence of blackness throughout the Americas. This is more than a simple matter of obscurity. It is a problem of erasure, invisibility and dislocation. Afróntalo introduces you to four communities in Mexico and twenty-one Californians, all in their own words, to explore the depth and breadth of Afrolatiné histories, cultures and identities. This exhibit is part of the Afrolatine California project.
Exhibit Runs September 21, 2023 – June 19, 2024
Free and open to the public
Other upcoming events and public programs from the Afrolatine California project:

Learn more at on the project’s website.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

RIVERSIDE–Bilingual Open Mics
2023-09-15 | Riverside Public Library, 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, California
RIVERSIDE– Riverside Public Library will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15) with a series of Bilingual Open Mic programs at libraries throughout the city that will invite local community members (including celebrated authors) to share stories, art, and poetry about the immigrant experience. Games, craft activities, and food vendors will be available to the public.
With a special emphasis on engaging older teens and adults, these programs will welcome participation from people of all ages and backgrounds, to promote connections and appreciation of Latinx culture.
Dates to be announced. For more information, contact Project Director Hayden Birkett.
Image by Dnessa Franklin on Unsplash.
This project is supported by the Library Innovation Lab.

ESCONDIDO–Cultural Fair Series
2023-09-16 | Escondido Public Library, 239 S Kalmia St., Escondido, 92025
SAN DIEGO– Escondido Public Library will hold the first event in The Cultural Fair Series, three afternoon programs that will explore the culture and history of recent immigrants to the city with Ukraine Culture and Art, Saturday, September 16, from 2 to 4:30 pm. The event, organized in partnership with the House of Ukraine in San Diego’s Balboa Park, will include a Bandura performance (a traditional Ukrainian music instrument), a lecture about Ukrainian culture and history, an art workshop and art show featuring works by local Ukrainian artists, and opportunities to sample favorite Ukrainian foods.
The Cultural Fair Series
Ukraine Culture and Art: Saturday, September 16, 2:00 – 4:30 pm.
Afghan Culture and Art: Saturday, November 18, 2:00 – 4:30 pm.
Yalda, Persian Winter Solstice Celebrations: Thursday, December 7, 5:30 – 7:00 pm.
All the programs will be held in the Turrentine Room at Escondido Public Library.
For more information, contact Project Director Azar Katouzian at Azar.Katouzian@escondidolibrary.org.
Image: Ukrainian jam by Olia Gozha on UnSplash.
This project is supported by the Library Innovation Lab.

VENICE–Exhibit: Where Has All the Affordable Housing Gone?
2023-09-17 - 2023-11-04 | Beyond Baroque, 681 N. Venice Blvd., Venice, CA, 90291, United States
…in search of lost rent-control housing in Venice…
VENICE—Visit the exhibit for “Where Has All The (affordable) Housing Gone?” a participatory, community-based art project that explores the loss of affordable housing in Venice. Through a series of workshops earlier in the year, diverse Venetians and other LA residents have taken photos of and written about the 280-plus rent-control buildings that have been taken off the affordable housing market in Venice, largely using the Ellis Act. The project team also looked at the many other ways the city has lost rent-controlled housing. The exhibit/installation is developed out of the materials they’ve produced, to open on September 17, 2023 with related readings and tours with the community participants, writers, artists, activists, and scholars.
Exhibit dates: September 17 – November 4, 2023
Opening: October 8, 2023, 2-5 pm (doors open 1:30)
Where: Beyond Baroque, 681 N. Venice Blvd, Venice 90291
Gallery hours: Fridays and Saturdays 12-6 pm
**Join these Tours and Conversation: October 14 and 28, 1-5 pm
Closing celebration November 4, details to be announced.
Also open during events at Beyond Baroque & by appointment Tuesday-Thursday from 12-6 pm, 310-822-3006 or 310-392-2076 or wherehasallthehousinggone@gmail.com
Organized by Judy Branfman in partnership with Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center. Support provided by California Humanities, California Arts Council, LA Department of Cultural Affairs, and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Thank you to partner organizations, Venice Arts Council, Venice Community Housing, Westside Local-LA Tenants Union, Veterans For Peace-LA, and Keep Neighborhoods First.
Follow along with the project’s KPFK Poets Café show
Project coverage in the Venice Beachhead
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Quick Grant.

PBS Premiere–SANSÓN AND ME
2023-09-19 - 2023-10-19 | PBS Station
PBS Premiere– Tune into PBS’s Independent Lens on September 19, 2023 for the broadcast premiere of SANSÓN and ME. Check your local listings! The film will also continue to stream on the PBS app after this date (may require a subscription).
Synopsis: Filmmaker Rodrigo Reyes re-creates the life of a young man named Sansón, an undocumented immigrant from coastal Mexico who is serving a life sentence for murder in California.

For more information, visit this link.
This project is supported by a California Documentary Project Grant.

SAN BERNARDINO–Exhibit: Afróntalo
2023-09-21 - 2024-06-19 | The CSUSB Anthropology Museum, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA, 92407, United States
21 Afrolatiné Californians and 4 Afro-Mexican communities in their own words
SAN BERNARDINO—One in four Latin Americans has African ancestry. And yet, there is a general deficit of knowledge regarding the presence and prevalence of blackness throughout the Americas. This is more than a simple matter of obscurity. It is a problem of erasure, invisibility and dislocation. Afróntalo introduces you to four communities in Mexico and twenty-one Californians, all in their own words, to explore the depth and breadth of Afrolatiné histories, cultures and identities.
Why is the exhibit called Afróntalo?
“Afróntalo” in Spanish means “Face It.” This reflects the intention of our exhibition to recognize the erasure of Afro-descendants and the prevalence of anti-blackness in the Americas. Additional meaning can be found in breaking the title into two separate phrases, “Afro” and “Ntalo.” The first phrase, “Afro,” reflects the Afro-descendant focus of the exhibition. The second phrase “Ntalo,” has at least three meanings in African languages. In Xitsonga, spoken in parts of Zimbabwe and Eswatini, ntalo means “abundance.” In Lingala, a language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ntalo means “value.” Finally in Ganda, the primary language spoken in Uganda, ntalo means “war.” Collectively, these three words reflect the impetus of Afróntalo to make clear the widespread and deep roots of Afro-descendants in the Americas, the incredible importance of Afro-descendant contributions and populations historically and today, and the need for action to bring attention to these matters and the contemporary needs of Afro-descendant communities.
Where: California State University, San Bernardino | Anthropology Museum (SB-306)5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407
Exhibit Runs September 21, 2023 – June 19, 2024
Free and open to the public
Additional events and public programs part of the Afrolatine California project:

Learn more at on the project’s website.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

SAN BERNARDINO–Opening Reception: Afróntalo
2023-09-21 16:00 - 18:00 | The CSUSB Anthropology Museum, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA, 92407, United States
21 Afrolatiné Californians and 4 Afro-Mexican communities in their own words
SAN BERNARDINO—Join the opening reception for the exhibit Afróntalo, at CSU San Bernardino’s Anthropology Museum. One in four Latin Americans has African ancestry. And yet, there is a general deficit of knowledge regarding the presence and prevalence of blackness throughout the Americas. This is more than a simple matter of obscurity. It is a problem of erasure, invisibility and dislocation. Afróntalo introduces you to four communities in Mexico and twenty-one Californians, all in their own words, to explore the depth and breadth of Afrolatiné histories, cultures and identities.
Why is the exhibit called Afróntalo?
“Afróntalo” in Spanish means “Face It.” This reflects the intention of our exhibition to recognize the erasure of Afro-descendants and the prevalence of anti-blackness in the Americas. Additional meaning can be found in breaking the title into two separate phrases, “Afro” and “Ntalo.” The first phrase, “Afro,” reflects the Afro-descendant focus of the exhibition. The second phrase “Ntalo,” has at least three meanings in African languages. In Xitsonga, spoken in parts of Zimbabwe and Eswatini, ntalo means “abundance.” In Lingala, a language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ntalo means “value.” Finally in Ganda, the primary language spoken in Uganda, ntalo means “war.” Collectively, these three words reflect the impetus of Afróntalo to make clear the widespread and deep roots of Afro-descendants in the Americas, the incredible importance of Afro-descendant contributions and populations historically and today, and the need for action to bring attention to these matters and the contemporary needs of Afro-descendant communities.
Opening Reception: 4-6 pm
Where: California State University, San Bernardino | Anthropology Museum (SB-306)5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407
Exhibit Runs September 21, 2023 – June 19, 2024
Free and open to the public
Learn more at on the project’s website.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

LOS ANGELES–Exhibit: Climates of Inequality
2023-09-23 09:00 - 2023-10-01 17:30 | Japanese American National Museum, 100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Los Angeles-Visit Climates of Inequality, a week-long pop-up exhibition featuring stories of environmental justice from the US, Mexico, and Colombia. Interactive displays bring you to the frontlines of community organizing in twenty-two localities, where the majority of residents are immigrants, low-income, Native American, and people of color. Though they have contributed the least to the climate crisis, these communities bear its most immediate and heaviest burdens. Yet in the face of this, communities have innovated creative strategies to resist and seek change, from coalition building and other solidarity movements to greening and restoring sites of significance.

FREE, Saturday, September 23 – Sunday, October 01, 2023

Where: Japanese American National Museum, Aratani Central Hall | 100 North Central Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90012

Learn more about the exhibition here.

This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

LOS ANGELES–Climates of Inequality Symposium
2023-09-30 09:00 - 17:30 | Japanese American National Museum, 100 North Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Los Angeles-Join a lively conversation with environmental justice leaders from Southern California as they discuss how their communities mobilize storytelling for change and to save lives. The daylong symposium includes the following speakers, as well as a screening and discussion of the documentary, Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust (2021). Spanish/English interpreters will be available throughout the day.
This symposium is aligned with Climates of Inequality, a week-long pop-up exhibition featuring stories of environmental justice from the US, Mexico, and Colombia. Interactive displays bring you to the frontlines of community organizing in twenty-two localities, where the majority of residents are immigrants, low-income, Native American, and people of color. Though they have contributed the least to the climate crisis, these communities bear its most immediate and heaviest burdens. Yet in the face of this, communities have innovated creative strategies to resist and seek change, from coalition building and other solidarity movements to greening and restoring sites of significance.

FREE, but registration required

Saturday, September 30, 2023

9 am – 5:30 pm PT

Where: Japanese American National Museum | 100 North Central Avenue | Los Angeles, CA 90012
Learn more and register here.

This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY–Circa: Queer Histories Festival
2023-10-01 - 2023-10-29 | Across Los Angeles County, United States
Above: Still promoting the Circa program Stories of Sex Work at The Mic @ Micky’s, happening October 4, 2023. Located in the heart of West Hollywood, Micky’s Weho is one of the most iconic and oldest gay bars in Los Angeles, known not just for its live entertainment but for its community based events and fundraisers.
The first and only Queer Histories Festival in the US
LOS ANGELES COUNTY—Celebrating seven decades of service to the LGBTQ+ community, One Institute (formerly One Archives Foundation) presents Circa, the first and only LGBTQ+ histories festival in the United States. Kicking off LGBTQ+ History Month, the month-long, LA County-wide programming series showcases the trailblazing histories and vibrant cultural contributions of LGBTQ+ communities through the lens of present-day challenges and triumphs. Through exhibitions, performance, readings, screenings, lectures, dialogues, and parties, Circa features queer and trans artists, activists, and educators leading the movement for LGBTQ+ liberation.
All events are free, suggested donations welcome!

TYPES OF EVENTS

Lecture
Panel Conversation
Party / Social Gathering
Performance
Podcast
Reading
Screening
Virtual Event
Workshop

LOCATIONS

Downtown / MacArthur Park
East LA / San Gabriel Valley
Glendale
Hollywood
Northridge
Santa Monica / Culver City
Silver Lake / Echo Park
West Adams
West Hollywood

Circa events run from October 1, 2023 – October 29, 2023 | Learn more at on the project’s website.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.

DEADLINE—Humanities for All Quick Grant
2023-10-01 - 2023-10-02 | CA, United States

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO–Preserving Family Heritage
2023-10-05 | San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, United States
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO– To commemorate Latinx Heritage Month and Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the San Juan Capistrano Library will offer a series of bilingual cultural programs to welcome immigrants, promote empathy, and foster a more inclusive community. Highlighting the importance of preserving family history and traditions, the project will enable participants of all backgrounds to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Latinx culture.
All events take place at:
San Juan Capistrano Library
31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
OC Memory Lab Demonstration and Craft
Thursday, October 5, 2023, 5:30 pm
A bilingual (English and Spanish) demonstration of the OC Memory Lab mobile unit will be presented where participants will learn to digitize images. The OC Memory Lab mobile unit offers DIY digitization of photos, documents, audiovisual records, and other formats. Participant can bring a photograph and staff will scan it and save it on a flash drive while they decorate a picture frame.
Local Author Spotlight: Marytza K. Rubio
Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 5:30 pm
A local author spotlight with Marytza K. Rubio, a writer from Santa Ana, California. She was a 2008 PEN America Emerging Voice Fellow and a 2010 Bread Loaf-Rona Jaffe Foundation Scholar in Fiction. Her debut story collection, Maria, Maria & Other Stories, was long listed for the 2022 National Book Award. Marytza currently serves as the Vice President of Community & Culture at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Complimentary books available, while supplies last. No registration required. Early arrival suggested.
Modesta Avila Historical Discussion with author Sarah Rafael García
Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 5:30 pm
A bilingual (English and Spanish) discussion on Modesta Avila, the Mexican American folk heroine known for her resistance against the Southern Pacific Railroad during the 1800s and her historical significance in San Juan Capistrano. The presentation will be provided by Sarah Rafael García (Author, Community Educator, and Performance Ethnographer) who will discuss the “Modesta Avila: Obstructing Development since 1889” (#MAOD1889) multimedia digital archives project. No registration required.
Café de Olla and Pan de Muerto Tasting with a Charlie Cart Demonstration
Thursday, October 12, 2023, 5:30 pm
A bilingual (English and Spanish) Charlie Cart demonstration of how to make Café de Olla, a traditional Mexican sweet coffee. Enjoy a Pan de Muerto (Mexican sweet bread) tasting as we explore recipe sharing through different generations. Participants can bring a recipe that they would like to share with the group (Optional). Registration is required. Register at the service desk.
Bilingual Alebrijes Storytime
Thursday, October 19, 2023, 5:30 pm
A special family bilingual (English and Spanish) Storytime and craft on Alebrijes. We will explore the significance of the vibrant colorful Mexican folk art of Alebrijes. Complimentary books are available, while supplies last. No registration is required. Early arrival is suggested.
Day of the Dead Musical Performance
Thursday, October 26, 2023, 5:30 pm
A bilingual (English and Spanish), interactive, and educational family music program featuring Mexican Indigenous percussion and songs performed by Martin Espino. No registration is required.
Día de Los Muertos Nichos and Other Crafts
Thursday, November 2, 2023, 3:30 pm
In celebration of the Day of the Dead, participants will make paper Nicho’s, a type of folk art popular throughout Central and South America, and paint a skull made of air-dry clay.
Family Cultural Literacy Day
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 3:30 pm
In celebration of the Day of the Dead the library will host a Family Cultural Literacy Day with a reading and signing by Mariana Galvez, Lil’ Libros author of Little Astrology Catrina’s and Where is? / ¿Dónde está? Mi Ofrenda. Participants will enjoy performances by the local Blas Aguilar Adobe Ballet Folklorico group, a mariachi performance, crafts such as sugar skull decorating, and more. Complimentary books are available, while supplies last. No registration is required. Early arrival is suggested.
For more information, contact Saidy Valdez, 949- 493-1752, saidy.valdez@occr.ocgov.com
This project is supported by the Library Innovation Lab.
Image via Unsplash

WINTERS–Cultura y Comunidad
2023-10-05 | San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, United States
WINTERS– This project aims to celebrate the culture and heritage of the Latinx community of Winters and promote community health and well-being. In collaboration with community partners, the Winters Community Library will hold weekly bilingual programs for all ages and levels throughout the month of October providing opportunities for discussion, reflection, and celebration. Programs include nutrition and movement workshops, Día de los Muertos printmaking presentation, bilingual storytimes, a health resource fair, and cultural performances.
All events take place at:
Winters Community Library
708 Railroad Avenue, Winters, CA 95694
Health Resource Fair
Thursday, October 5, 2023, 6-8 pm
Visit with various community organizations to learn about the resources available to you and your family. Children’s activities and food (while supplies last) will be provided.
Folklórico Juvenil Danzantes Unidos de Vacaville
Saturday, October 7, 2023 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Enjoy a performance by Folklórico Juvenil Danzantes Unidos de Vacaville, followed by a dance demonstration and the history of Ballet Folklórico. Culture sharing activities and dessert will be provided after the performance.
Zumba & Self Care
Saturday, October 7, 2023 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Participate in a one-hour Zumba class with instructor Mayra Loza. After the class, we will enjoy a healthy post-workout snack and engage in a self-care activity.
Kalpulli Xihuacoalt
Saturday, October 14, 2023 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Enjoy a performance by traditional Aztec dance troupe Kalpulli Xihuacoalt, followed by a dance demonstration and history of Danza. Culture sharing activities and dessert will be provided after the performance.
Dia de Muertos Printmaking Presentation
Thursday, October 19, 2023 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Join Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer (TANA) for a presentation on Dia de Muertos, its origins, and its relevance in contemporary Chicano/an art and culture. A live silk screen printing demonstration and crafts will follow. Visit TANA at www.tana.ucdavis.edu for more information.
Zumba & Self Care
Saturday, October 21, 2023 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Participate in a one-hour Zumba class with instructor Mayra Loza. After the class, we will enjoy a healthy post-workout snack and engage in a self-care activity.
Hands-on Cooking & Diabetes Prevention Presentation with Winters Healthcare
Thursday, October 26, 2023 5:45 – 8:00 pm
The Winters Healthcare Health Coaches will show us how to make delicious healthy meals with a hands-on cooking demonstration, followed by a diabetes prevention presentation. Children’s activities will be offered.
Community Walk
Saturday, October 28, 2023 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Let’s go for a walk along the Putah Creek Nature Park Trail and take a tour of the Winters Healthcare Community Garden. Meet outside the library at 10 am. Bring comfortable clothing, shoes, and water for the walk. *Weather permitting
For more information, contact Ruby Buentello, Ruby.buentello@yolocounty.org.
This project is supported by the Library Innovation Lab.

POV SHORTS SEASON 6–SOL IN THE GARDEN
2023-10-06 - 2023-11-06 | PBS Station
POV Shorts Season 6 Unveils New Dimensions in Storytelling
Embark on narratives that crisscross our world, touching deep emotional chords. From Denver City’s oil-driven pulse and LA’s tinderbox streets, to intimate odysseys of redemption, revelation, and rebirth. Immerse yourself in these four new episodes, each offering a distinctive voice.
Included in this season is SOL IN THE GARDEN, a short documentary awarded a California Documentary Project grant in 2022.
Synopsis: After 16 years of incarceration, Sol is released from prison, when she discovers that coming into her own freedom can be as challenging as living behind bars. Through a community gardening collective of formerly incarcerated horticulturalists in East Oakland, Sol strives to recover her humanity and sense of self.

All shorts are available now on pov.org and the PBS App.
This project is supported by a California Documentary Project Grant.

HAYWARD–Community Panel
2023-10-06 15:00 - 16:30 | Hayward Public Library, 888 C Street, Hayward, 94541, United States
HAYWARD-Join a series of community conversations about how Hayward histories shape our lives today. Each conversation will feature individuals who made history through sustained local action and community work.
Community Panel: Country Press and Barrio Expressions: Young People Build Community and Identity in the Bay Area, 1970-1985. 1970s Hayward saw a flourishing of youth movements to end injustices and create caring communities through understanding. The Country Press Collective and Barrio Expressions, original to Hayward, reveal the lives and interests of diverse groups, including LGBTQ and Chicano/a youth, on their own terms and in their own spaces. The Country Press and Barrio Expressions created belonging through culture and political action. They make visible the ways Hayward’s young people cared for each other and gave voice to their ideas and identities.
Community Panel: Country Press and Barrio Expressions:
Young People Build Community and Identity in the Bay Area, 1970-1985
Friday, October 6, 2023, 3:00-4:30pm
Fremont Bank Room at the Hayward Public Library
888 C Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Light refreshments will be served. This series is free to the public. Parking in city lots next to the library is free of charge.
For more information, go to haywardhistory.org or contact Dr. Bridget Ford, 510-885-3207, bridget.ford@csueastbay.edu.
Image: Hayward Public Library by Elisa Buitrago, The Pioneer.
This project is supported by a Humanities for All Quick Grant.
