Contact:
Karsen Lee Gould 805 6876615

create@artsforhumanity.com

September 26, 2011 

Santa Barbara, CA—Arts for Humanity! was this year’s recipient of the Rex Foundation’s Jerry Garcia Award.  As the recipient of the Jerry Garcia Award, Arts for Humanity received a $10,000 grant.  Arts for Humanity! will use the grant money to support its Community Expressive Arts and Internship Program, providing arts experiences free of charge directly to the clients of non-profit social service agencies. 

“This generous grant comes at a crucial time for theSanta Barbaracommunity and Arts for Humanity! as many arts programs are being cut and losing funding due to the economy.   It is an honor to receive this grant, and we look forward to meeting the needs of the community with our unique arts programs,” said Karsen Lee Gould, founder and director of Arts for Humanity!

“The award honors and supports individuals and groups that work to encourage creativity in young people,” said Sandy Sohcot, Executive Director of the Rex Foundation.   “We believe the work of Arts for Humanity! is just what the Jerry Garcia Award is about.  Arts for Humanity!  celebrates humanity through the arts with programs that cultivate creativity and empower people with developmental disabilities, at-risk youth, the elderly and others in partnership with local artists and theSanta Barbaracommunity. “

Arts for Humanity! supports the community at large by providing ongoing creative arts programming to community organizations as well as public art exhibits and periodic theatre productions.   The aim of the arts programming is to expose the local community to the creative arts of its program participants, while raising community awareness as to the gifts and talents of these valuable community members. Some of the organizations Arts for Humanity! serves include: Boys and Girls Clubs,AlphaResourceCenter, IV Teen Center, Transition House, and more.

The Jerry Garcia Award was created in memory of founding Rex Board member and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia.  

ABOUT ARTS FOR HUMANITY!

Founded in 1997, Arts for Humanity! is aSanta Barbarabased non-profit organization that empowers low income at-risk youth, persons with disabilities, and the elderly through participatory performing and visual arts programs. In partnership with student interns, local artists, and community organizations, Arts for Humanity! cultivates creativity and gives a voice to the underserved while inspiring student youth – our future leaders. Our transformational arts programs cross economic and social divides to make the arts accessible to all. Arts for Humanity! believes in a world where the arts are integral to our lives, where we celebrate both our differences and our commonality through the power of the arts.

ABOUT REX FOUNDATION

The Grateful Dead and friends established the Rex Foundation in 1983 as a non-profit charitable organization. The foundation enabled the Grateful Dead to go beyond responding to multiple requests for contributions, and proactively provide extensive community support to creative endeavors in the arts, sciences, and education.  The foundation aims to help secure a healthy environment, promote individuality in the arts, provide support to critical and necessary social services, assist others less fortunate than ourselves, protect the rights of indigenous people and ensure their cultural survival, build a stronger community, and educate children and adults everywhere.

Arts for Humanity! (AH!) presents “Inside the Outside,”
a traveling Outsider Art Exhibit featuring art created
by artists with disabilities.

“…wonderful talent, very touching.” … “amazing”…
“uncensored, magical” … “marvelous”
…“right from the heart.”

Arts for Humanity! at  il fustino

Come experience the sensitive, innovative artwork of these gifted individuals at this fine family owed business and gallery.

Join Arts for Humanity! for a wine and cheese gathering at il fustino, November 30th, Wednesday 6-8pm. Learn more about the exhibit and this lovely shop at: www.ilfustino.com

A little about Arts for Humanity! (AH!) Founded in 1997, Arts for Humanity!, a local non-profit, empowers low income at-risk youth, persons with disabilities, and the elderly through participatory performing and visual arts programs. In partnership with talented interns, local artists, and community organizations, Arts for Humanity! cultivates creativity and gives a voice to the underserved while also inspiring student youth. Our transformational arts programs and events fill the gaps in community services by providing opportunities that facilitate creative expression for the diverse members of our community. Arts for Humanity! believes in a world where the arts are integral to our lives and accessible to all – where we celebrate both our differences and our commonality through the power of the arts.