ColorMeLongBeach

Color Me Long Beach: A Multicultural Urban Arts and Video Experience offers the community an opportunity to experience the diversity of Long Beach in a celebration of multicultural urban arts and video representing the many communities that call the city home.

ColorMeLongBeachOn Saturday, September 27 from 4:00PM to 9:00PM, join Color Me Long Beach for this unique, hands-on experience presented in partnership with The Creativity Network and Homeland Cultural Center. The event will take place in the parking lot adjacent to the Art Exchange at 3rd Street and Long Beach Blvd.

“I want to encourage everyone to come and enjoy this great event that highlights the creativity and diversity of our city’s youth,” said Mayor Robert Garcia said. “It promises to be educational and entertaining for all. I look forward to seeing you there.”

The Mayor, along with Councilmembers Suja Lowenthal (2nd District) and Lena Gonzalez (1st District), are scheduled to kick off the five-hour long curated experience. The event will feature live performances, workshops, community resources, food trucks and interactive activities for the entire family.

“Color Me Long Beach will highlight the richness and depth of the changing demographics of Long Beach and the arts and culture that rises from it,” said event producer Antonio Ruiz. “Our goal is to engage all of the city’s residents with a special focus on those communities that have not traditionally participated in larger citywide arts events.”

“The Arts Council for Long Beach is thrilled to partner with The Creativity Network and Homeland’s exciting arts groups,” said Arts Council Executive Director Victoria Bryan, “Color Me Long Beach’s focus on young, urban artists is the perfect match to kick off this year’s A LOT. We are proud to use the A LOT platform to bring this work to a broader audience.”

The Program:

Featured performers will host workshops following their time onstage to allow attendees to participate and learn more about their unique performances, dance forms and instruments. Performers include:

  • Dembrebrah West African Drum and Dance Ensemble
  • Kutturan Chamoru Performers of Guam
  • Homeland Street Dance Crew
  • Cambodian Fine Art Heritage Relief Foundation
  • Homeland Funkstylers
  • Hmong Association of Long Beach
  • Danza Azteca Xipetotec
  • Halle Johnson, Singer/Songwriter
  • Spoken Word Artists
  • Felicia Cade
  • Briana Nieves
  • and Jumakae, Long Beach multidisciplinary artist, and educator will also perform and emcee the show

Artists’ Way Hands-On Workshops will include:

  • A worsjop from the Long Beach Main Library’s Studio, WE Labs, and the Y’s Youth Institute at UrbanTechno which offers exploration of technology and urban communities. Visitors can participate in live video recording and experience the excitement of designing and creating 3-D printed pieces.
  • Sponsored by the Port of Long Beach, The Long Beach Depot for Creative ReUse and Save Oceans & Seas: Our City Our Ocean will use reclaimed articles from local beaches to create beautiful mixed media art on discarded surfboards.
  • Village Treasures, an African Gift Shop, Boutique and Gallery, and Dembrebrah, an African American Cultural Association, will teach aboutThe African Diaspora and participate in a demonstration of African dance and drumming.
  • Centro CHA: My Story, an Urban Art Exhibition of artworks created by youth from the Be S.A.F.E. Summer Project

Featured Performers following their time onstage will participate in workshops to teach visitors about their unique performances, dance forms and instruments.

The Molina Healthcare Presents Healthy Me Zone will offer healthy living workshops, tips and resources. Confirmed participants include:

  • Molina Healthcare
  • Long Beach Health & Human Services Department
  • Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP)
  • Medi-Cal Outreach and Health Access Program

The Community Empowerment Zone sponsored by the California Endowment Community Resources and information. Confirmed participants include:

  • Building Healthy Communities Long Beach
  • The Long Beach Time Exchange
  • Latinos in Action
  • Housing Long Beach
  • Y Early Childhood Education Program
  • ColorVision Video Showcase
  • A showcase of visions by Long Beach youth curated by Digital Revolution, Really Big Boom Productions and Long Beach Cinematheque.

Color Me Long Beach is accessible by bike, bus, and the Metro Blue Line. Pedal Movement will provide secure bike parking throughout the event. Parking for cars is available on street and at adjacent city lots.

Color Me Long Beach is sponsored by the Arts Council for Long Beach and Molina Healthcare, with additional support from the California Endowment, the Port of Long Beach and Downtown Long Beach Associates. The Urban Art and Video experience is part of the A LOT initiative, a citywide initiative presented by the Arts Council for Long Beach in collaboration with the City of Long Beach.

Each A LOT event presents a variety of genres in underutilized spaces. A LOT adds to the national conversation about creative placemaking. As the City’s arts agency, whose mission is to foster creativity and culture, enliven communities, and enable a thriving economy, the Arts Council is honored to be facilitating this initiative. A LOT was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) received by the Arts Council. Other funders for the event include the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and California Community Foundation.