New State Arts Grant Helps MoVal Turn Parks Into Creative Canvases by Stella Pierce - City News Group, Inc.

Community Calendar

FEBRUARY
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
View Events
Submit Events
directory

New State Arts Grant Helps MoVal Turn Parks Into Creative Canvases

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer
December 11, 2024 at 03:20pm. Views: 340

Moreno Valley is a proud recipient of California’s first-ever Arts in California Parks Local Parks Grant Program, proving that the City’s parks are for more than just play—they are for paintings, performances, and parties too! Awarded by California State Parks, the California Arts Council, and Parks California, this prestigious grant will fund MoVal’s “Arts and Culture Celebrations,” a series of free events set to bring more music, art, and heart to our local parks.

 

“Being chosen from more than 220 applicants is a big win for Moreno Valley,” said Mayor Ulises Cabrera. “Thanks to this grant, and the integration of these events, our parks will transform into stages, galleries, and studios that bring our community’s rich diversity into full color for everyone to experience.”

 

The Arts in California Parks Local Parks Grant Program awarded $2.8 million across 31 organizations in the state, aimed at turning parks into pop-up hubs for public art, culture, and connection. Here in Moreno Valley, the funds will support the “El Grito” celebration and the MoVal Multi-Cultural & Arts Festival; events packed with cultural performances, live art installations, and hands-on activities showcasing the area’s creative flair and community pride. The arts programming will run through September 2025, inviting residents to enjoy and explore art from every angle.

 

“This grant isn’t just about adding a splash of color to our parks,” added Mayor Cabrera. “It’s about creating spaces where every resident feels seen, celebrated, and connected to our city’s heartbeat. These festivals will help us bridge cultures, generations, and neighborhoods with a whole lot of fun.”

 

The new grant program is highly competitive, with recipients chosen for their potential to spark creativity and community spirit. Moreno Valley’s events are part of this dynamic effort to help Californians of all ages discover the joy of art in the great outdoors. Our parks will become playgrounds for the imagination, featuring everything from music and dance to live art demos and interactive installations that honor the creative spirit of MoVal.

 

For more information on the Arts in California Parks Program, visit artsincaliforniaparks.org.

 

For more information on Moreno Valley’s Public Art program and resources, visit moval.org/art.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: Loveland Church

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

February 20, 2026 at 03:16pm. Views: 383

The keynote speaker is Chad Brown, who will share insights on his “radical, innovative, and cutting-edge’ approach to social progress.

Photo Courtesy of: Melanie West

By Titan Mom Elvira & Cisco Valenzuela, Community Writer

February 17, 2026 at 07:19pm. Views: 409

TME Athlete of the Week: David Gusta with his mom.

Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By Ruby Stephenson, Contributing Writer

February 17, 2026 at 04:28pm. Views: 452

A sign mounted on a pole in a leafy, sunlit park reads “WiFi Garden” and announces a public, password-free internet zone, where visitors can log on to the “ILoveMoVal” network, with green trees filling the background.

Photo Courtesy of: Dr.G (Dr. Luis S González

By Dr.G (Dr. Luis S González), Community Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:44pm. Views: 404

Photo (L to R): Leah Ornelas, Kaitlyn Torres, Ava Diaz, Samantha Sandoval, and Jasmin Lopez Herrera at the Agua Mansa Power Plant (AMPP).

Photo Courtesy of: Designed by Freepik

By Kathryne Mccann, Contributing Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:43pm. Views: 486

A grocery store aisle with refrigerated shelves stocked with milk, creamers, and other dairy products.

Photo Courtesy of: Cheryl Brown

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:43pm. Views: 456

Cheryl Brown, former Assemblymember and former chair of the California Commission on Aging, said, “I strongly encourage people of all ages to take advantage of this opportunity to study gerontology and contribute to the well-being of senior citizens in California. After all, we will all be 'old' one day.”

Photo Courtesy of: Designed by Freepik

By Ruby Stephenson, Contributing Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:43pm. Views: 695

Cars blur past with glowing headlights on a multi-lane road beneath an overpass at dusk, as bright orange traffic cones line a roadside construction zone.
Construction in the City of Riverside is scheduled to begin, on February 9, 2026, and drivers should expect similar traffic adjustments and lane changes in affected areas.

Photo Courtesy of: Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB)

By Rachel Bonilla, Community Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:43pm. Views: 574

A person sitting inside a vehicle holds a medium-sized cardboard box labeled “nourish now.” The label features an image of fresh produce.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira & Cisco Valenzuela, Community Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:43pm. Views: 372

TME Athlete of the Week: David Gusta.

Photo Courtesy of: Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino

By Rachel Bonilla, Community Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:24pm. Views: 870

The highly-anticipated annual soup luncheon: Curbing Hunger: Serving Hope.

Photo Courtesy of: Assemblymember James C. Ramos Official Website

By Maria Lopez, Contributing Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:25pm. Views: 713

James C. Ramos is a California State Assemblymember representing the 45th District, known for his leadership on public safety, education, and Native American issues as the first California Native American elected to the Legislature.

Photo Courtesy of: San Bernardino County Library

By Charmaine Mislang, Community Writer

February 17, 2026 at 01:25pm. Views: 565

An illustrated promotional graphic shows an open book at the bottom with colorful paint splashes bursting upward, paintbrushes and books emerging from the colors, and bold text in the center reading “Design a Bookmark Contest! 2026,” alongside the San Bernardino County Library logo in the upper corner.

--> -->