Fresno Art Beat

Fresno Art Beat Wrapped with a Celebration at July’s ArtHop

Fresno Art Beat has come to a close after nearly a year of capturing the city’s arts and cultural scenes. From galleries and festivals to dance performances and community gatherings, CMAC’s Fresno Art Beat Crew documented the stories that brought Fresno’s creative spirit to life.

As the project ends, we invite you to look back and enjoy the moments that made it special. Watch the coverage and revisit the local talent, vibrant events, and inspiring people who shaped this journey.

Thank you to everyone who supported Fresno Art Beat and helped shine a light on the arts in our community. Though this chapter has ended, the energy of Fresno’s art scene continues to thrive.

Why it Matters

This isn’t just about film, it’s about access, representation, and opportunity.

Led by CMAC’s Davie Ramirez and Ben Cruz, Fresno Art Beat taught local residents how to shoot, produce, and edit video, giving them hands-on experience while serving the community.

In turn, organizations got their arts and cultural events covered at no cost. Residents who signed up to participate as crew gained real-world training. And together, they told the stories that often go unheard.

Capture Creativity. Craft Stories. Celebrate Fresno.

Funded By

This project is funded in part by the City of Fresno Measure P Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Fund administered by the Fresno Arts Council.

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Show Your Support By Watching Our Coverage!

Fresno Art Beat was built to uplift the arts community in the City of Fresno, and now you can watch the powerful stories we captured throughout the year. From local art galleries and cultural festivals to dance performances and community voices, it’s all right here.

Watch our coverage and experience the creativity, passion, and talent that make Fresno’s arts scene so special.

This project was made possible by the artists, storytellers, and residents who opened their doors and shared their journeys. Now it’s your turn to see Fresno through their perspective.

Fresno Art Beat Recap #7

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Fresno Art Beat: MMIWGR Vigil

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Fresno Art Beat Recap #6

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Fresno Art Beat: KFCF’s Tower Live!

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Fresno Art Beat: Fresno State’s Young Writers’ Conference 2025

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Fresno Art Beat: Stitching Through Time

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Fresno Art Beat: Why Not Wednesday

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Fresno Art Beat: Wild Blue Zine

Fresno Art Beat covered the Wild Blue Zine release party, a reading…

Fresno Art Beat: Celtic Alchemy

In celebration of Saint Patricks Day, Fresno Art Beat was invited…

Fresno Art Beat Recap #4

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Fresno Art Beat: Rogue Fest

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Fresno Art Beat: Womxn2Womxn

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Fresno Art Beat: Stability / Change

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Fresno Art Beat: Sacred Hearts

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Fresno Art Beat: YOOF Opera For Everyone

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Fresno Art Beat Recap #3

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Fresno Art Beat: Cen Cal Cinema Weird Al Look Alike Contest

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Fresno Art Beat: Central Valley Fashion Week

The Art Beat team was invited over to Frank's Place for Central…

Fresno Art Beat: Chinatown Lion Dancers

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Fresno Art Beat went…

Fresno Art Beat Recap #2

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Fresno Art Beat: Posadas Navideña

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Fresno Art Beat: FAMily Day

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Fresno Art Beat: CMT’s Annie, Jr.

Fresno Art Beat visited Children's Musical Theaterworks to speak…

Fresno Art Beat: Fresno State’s Red Velvet

Fresno Art Beat covers Professor Brad Myer's last theater production…

Fresno Art Beat: Wandering with the Wind

Wandering with the Wind takes you across Iran, blending poetry,…

Fresno Art Beat Recap #1

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Fresno Art Beat: Cultural Unity Fest

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Fresno Art Beat: Fil Fiesta 559

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About Fresno Art Beat

Fresno Art Beat was an exciting project that spotlighted the rich and diverse arts community in Fresno.

Created to foster deeper connections between local artists, art organizations, and the broader public, Fresno Art Beat provided a platform for sharing stories, showcasing artistic talent, and promoting cultural expression.

The goal was to elevate the voices of underrepresented artists and increase visibility for the creative work happening throughout the city. In doing so, the project helped strengthen Fresno’s cultural fabric and encouraged greater community engagement with the arts.

Timeline

  • July 3, 2025

    Fresno Art Beat Project Showcase

    We’ll celebrate the end of the program with a showcase event at CMAC from 5 to 8pm.

  • October 2024 - May 2025

    Project Time Frame

    Over eight months, FAB participants will document local arts and culture events. Are you an organizer with an event taking place during this time frame? Submit a request for coverage here.

  • October 10, 2024

    First Orientation

    Orientation provides participants with key information about the project, including assignments, and training dates. There will be additional orientations for those who apply after this date.

  • September 9, 2024

    Applications Open

    Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Those who are interested in participating can apply anytime between September 2024 and May 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

For ParticipantsFor Event Organizers

Fresno Art Beat is focused on arts and culture in Fresno. Participants will cover a range of events including art exhibitions, gallery walkthroughs, live performances, cultural celebrations, parades, and more.

Anyone with an interest in filming, video editing, and media production is welcome to apply! Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, we invite participants from all backgrounds to get involved. Must be 18 or older and be a resident of the city of Fresno to apply. To align with the City of Fresno’s Cultural Arts Plan, applicants who identify as youth (18-30), senior (62+), veterans, LGBTQ+, or low-income will be given priority consideration.  The program is designed to develop production skills for those with little to no experience.

Please note: Participants must provide their own transportation to project activities.

Participants will receive hands-on training in filming and video editing, learning to create high-quality content that showcases Fresno’s art organizations. You’ll gain valuable skills in media production while working on real-world projects.

That’s OK! Fresno Art Beat is designed to be a learning experience. You don’t need any prior media experience to participate. 

The FAB Crew will cover arts and cultural events every week from October 2024 through May 2025. Your level of participation will depend on your own availability. Our project leaders will regularly communicate upcoming production and training opportunities to all participants. Training sessions will generally be held on weekdays after 5 pm and last for 2 hours. Production days will vary depending on the events we are covering – they could be weekdays or weekends in the afternoon or evenings. Some production days could be 2-3 hours while others might be 6-8 hours.

Yes! Participants in the Fresno Art Beat project will receive a $250 stipend for each production they work on as part of the program. It’s a great opportunity to build your portfolio and earn while learning.

Nope! CMAC will be providing all the equipment needed.

*Please note: Participants must provide their own transportation to project activities.

Fresno Art Beat is made possible thanks to the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture grant, funded through Measure P. This grant helps support projects that expand arts accessibility and cultural engagement in Fresno.

Anyone hosting an arts or cultural event within the Fresno city limits is eligible to request media coverage from Fresno Art Beat.

Event coverage requests can be submitted through this Google Form: forms.gle/VdmC1Lkq6YUg3Jdx6.

Please note: Submitting a request does not guarantee your event will be covered by the Fresno Art Beat crew. Requests will be reviewed by project leaders to determine if we can meet the needs of your request. We will contact you for more information and to confirm our availability.

No. If your event request is selected and we confirm our involvement, there will be no cost to the event organizers. This project is funded in part by the City of Fresno Measure P Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Fund administered by the Fresno Arts Council.

Due to high demand, event selections are based on alignment with the program goals, availability of our crew, and the impact on Fresno’s arts and cultural community. Priority is given to events with wide community engagement.

Videos are typically uploaded to CMAC channels within 1-2 weeks after the event, depending on the complexity of the coverage and the editing required. Once the videos are complete and uploaded, event organizers will be sent a link from the Fresno Art Beat team.

Absolutely! The video will be publicly available and you can share it on social media, websites, and other platforms. We ask that you give credit to Fresno Art Beat and CMAC for the production.

Contact Info

Address:
1555 Van Ness Ave.
Suite #201
Fresno, CA 93721

Phone:
(559) 266-2622

Getting to CMAC

Hours:
Tues: 12 – 8 p.m.
Wed: 12 – 8 p.m.
Thur: 12 – 8 p.m.
Fri: 12 – 6 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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