Fresno Arts Council

10/15/2026

Fresno Arts Council invites you to a live poetry reading around the concepts of natural spaces and rivers by Fresno’s Poet Laureate, Aideed Medina, and award-winning writer, Laura Schulkind!

📅 Date: Monday, October 19

📍 Location: Fresno Arts Council - 1245 Van Ness Ave

⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Aideed Medina is a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet, award-winning spoken word artist and playwright, and the author of 31 Hummingbird: A Suite of Poems (Editorial Xingao, 2023) and Segmented Bodies (Prickly Pear Press, 2024).

Laura Schulkind is a Curator for Central Coast Poetry Spaces, Special Projects Docent of Tor House, a poetry workshop presenter of Ekphrastic Poetry at the Monterey Museum of Art, and the author of various works including The Long Arc of Grief (Finishing Line Press, 2019). Laura also worked as a lawyer, specializing in California public schools and community college districts for more than 30 years!

Don’t miss the chance to hear these wonderful poets on October 19th at the FAC Gallery!

10/06/2026

Join the Fresno Arts Council this Thursday for a free poetry reading by Ashley M. Jones-Thompson, the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Alabama! Ashley is the first African American and the youngest individual to serve in this prestigious role 👏

📆 Date: Thursday, October 8

📍 Location: Fresno Arts Council - 1245 Van Ness Ave

⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM

There will be a panel discussion with current and former Poets Laureate of Fresno including Aideed Medina, Joseph Rios, Megan Bohigian, James Tyner, and Fresno County Youth Poet Laureate, Evy Singh 🎤

Judging by the Cover will have a table featuring some books and works by these poets, available for purchase 📚

Hosted by the Fresno Arts Council in partnership with the Taste of Freedom Project, this event was made possible by the Central Valley Community Foundation and the James B. McClatchy Foundation.

This poetry reading is part of the Taste of Freedom Project’s “Standing on their Shoulders” event happening on October 10th at Fresno City College.

10/02/2026

Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month this October by exploring upcoming art events hosted by the Fresno Arts Council and other local organizations this weekend and beyond 🧡

Events hosted by the Fresno Arts Council are marked by our logo. Visit the link for information about all of the events listed: https://mailchi.mp/fresnoartscouncil/october-events

📍 The Great Valley Gathering - October 2-4, 2026

📍 LitHop - October 3, 2026

📍 A Gathering of Laureates with Ashley M. Jones-Thompson - October 8, 2026

📍 Standing on Their Shoulders - October 10, 2026

📍 The Business of Art: Panel Discussion - Creative Themes - October 12, 2026

📍 Third Thursday ArtHop - October 15, 2026

📍 Poets in the Gallery Featuring Laura Schulkind and Aideed Medina - October 19, 2026

These are some of the many local art events happening in October. Visit our Arts Calendar for more upcoming events here: https://www.fresnoartscouncil.org/arts-calendar

09/30/2026

Bill Bruce, long time Fresno artist, sadly passed away in July at the age of 94.

The Bruce family hopes to help his work get out in the community. If you have enjoyed his work or would love to see it for the first time, please visit his studio during
ArtHop on October 1st at 1752 Van Ness Ave from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

The Fresno Arts Council fondly remembers Bill Bruce and is grateful to have honored his contributions to the arts with a Horizon Award in 2014.

If you would like to come to the studio at a time that may work better for you, please feel free to reach out to Bill's daughter, Rachel Bruce. She can be reached at 559-363-5961 and would love to make that happen.

09/29/2026

Here are some volunteer opportunities and open calls for artists to keep on your radar 👀 Visit this link for more information: https://mailchi.mp/fresnoartscouncil/volunteer-opportunities-artist-calls-oct

📌 Alliance for California Traditional Art's Volunteer Call
Deadline: Open until filled

📌 2027 FAC Gallery Open Call
Deadline: October 2, 2026

📌 2027 Fresno City Hall Gallery Open Call
Deadline: October 2, 2026

📌 2026 Fresno County Youth Poet Laureate
Deadline: October 4, 2026

📌 2026 Fresno County Youth Poet Laureate
Deadline: October 4, 2026

📌 Black Panther Party 60th Anniversary Film Project
Deadline: Open until filled

📌 2027 CA Arts & Culture Summit Call for Proposals
Deadline: October 19, 2026

📌 Monterey Museum of Art Call for Curator
Deadline: October 31, 2026

📌 EAAC Cycle Three Application Review Committee Call for Applications
Deadline: September 30, 2026

Please note that the Fresno Arts Council is not affiliated with every opportunity listed in this post. Please visit their respective websites for more information.

09/22/2026

📣 Attention artists! The Romain Historical Home is seeking artists to exhibit artwork in their building during ArtHop on October 1st 🎨

Please contact [email protected] to apply for this opportunity and for any questions!

The deadline to submit your artwork is Monday, September 28, 2026 📌

09/18/2026

Local jazz phenom Mike Dana has a new album out today! Read up on this remarkable collection of original tunes with great musicians! Mike Dana's Farther (Still) is "bold and bopping to a hip swing," according to one happy reviewer. "Cinematic" and "sophisticated," others chime in. Listen for yourself. And learn more here:

View fullsize Ingrid Jensen View fullsize Tim Ries View fullsize Eric Marienthal MIKE DANA: FARTHER (STILL)In the music world here in our valley, success stories often have a bit of a family feel. Relationships send tendrils in every direction, reaching far afield and then, as often as not, circling...

09/14/2026

Join us for a Gathering of Laureates with Ashley M. Jones-Thompson 🌟

Fresno Arts Council, in partnership with the Taste of Freedom Project, invites you to an evening of poetry featuring a live reading by the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Alabama, Ashley M. Jones-Thompson. Mrs. Jones-Thompson has made history as the youngest person and the first person of color to serve as Alabama's Poet Laureate, a role that was created in 1930.

The evening will also feature a panel discussion with Ashley M. Jones-Thompson, current Fresno Poet Laureate Aideed Medina, current Fresno County Youth Poet Laureate Evy Singh, and former Fresno Poets Laureate Joseph Rios, Megan Bohigian, Marisol Baca, and James Tyner.

Join us on Thursday, October 8, from 6:30 - 7:45 PM at the Fresno Arts Council Gallery at 1245 Van Ness Avenue. This event is free and open to the public.

There is metered parking outside of the Fresno Arts Council Gallery, and a parking garage nearby at Merced and Van Ness Street. Both are free after 6 PM.

This event was made possible the Central Valley Community Foundation and the James B. McClatchy Foundation.

We hope to see you there!

09/11/2026

There is still time to apply for these opportunities 🚨 Visit this link for more information about each opportunity you see here!

Please note that the Fresno Arts Council is not affiliated with every opportunity listed in this post. Please visit their respective websites through the link:

https://mailchi.mp/fresnoartscouncil/volunteer-opportunities-artist-calls-sept-2611

09/04/2026

⏰ 7 Days Left to Enter Our Logo Contest ❗

The Fresno Arts Council is seeking a local artist to create next year’s Official ArtHop logo! One (1) winning design will receive a $600 cash prize, and will be used for all official ArtHop promotional materials for 2027. This contest is free to enter and Fresno County-based artists of all ages are invited to apply!

Artists should make sure that their entries are not in any way similar to pre-existing or trademarked logo designs and any other copyrighted images. Entries featuring use of AI or images/designs that violate trademark and copyright law, including entries created with free or licensed templates, will be disqualified.

The entry deadline is Friday, September 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM on Submittable. Please visit the "Opens Call" page on our website for more information, guidelines, and the contest application here: https://www.fresnoartscouncil.org/open-calls-for-artists

For questions, please contact [email protected].