Modesto: The Next Great City of Art in America!
A year ago, we launched the Modesto Artists Movement (MAM) with the goal of creating great art and cultivating the next generation of great artists through events, education, and support. What started as an ambitious dream to help make Modesto the next great city of art in America has quickly become a movement—one that is changing the cultural landscape of our city through inspiring events, creative educational opportunities, and unbelievable community support from a diverse array of artists and audiences.
And we’re just getting started. We invite you to review our 2024 Impact Report! Here's a summary:
Building an Artistic Revolution
In just one year, MAM has:
🎨 Hosted 44 diverse arts events—from poetry slams and beat battles to open mics, comedy competitions, and hiphop storytime for kids!
📚 Created educational programs like Koala "Beatmaking" Camp, Poetry Slam Camp, and Write Night to mentor the next generation of artists.
🎭 Partnered with key local venues like Queen Bean, State Theatre, Prospect Theater, MoChiMu, and Lofi Lounge to ensure the arts thrive in multiple arenas throughout Modesto.
🎤 Launched the Ambassador Program, connecting influential artists across poetry, music, hip-hop, comedy, fiction, film, and photography.
💡 Awarded mini-grants to help artists bring their creative visions to life.
🖌️ Empowered marginalized individuals, from our partnership with the Downtown Streets Team to children of migrant farmworkers, with creative workshops in art, poetry, and hip-hop, proving that art is not just an expression—it’s a lifeline.
Art That Unites, Heals, and Inspires
Through MAM, art is more than just an event—it’s a movement.
The ILL LIST Poetry Slam continues to be one of the country's most prestigious spoken word events, attracting national slam poets and selling out annually.
The Crush Congregation Beat Battle annually has been a galvanizing force for hiphop in our community, uniting artists with a shared loved for making beats.
Off the Air, Cameras y Cocteles, and Colores de Futuro are celebrating the beauty of music, photography, and visual art. These partnered events highlight some of the best of our local arts community.
Comedy Night at Queen Bean is creating an exciting new stage for laughter, connection, and the cultivation of new comics.
Music Open Mics at Queen Bean are giving local musicians their moment to shine in a safe and exciting space.
Poetry Nights and Haiku Battles continue to attract diverse voices and large audiences where empathy, understanding, and entertainment are all experienced in a safe, inspirational, and welcoming environment.
And this is only the beginning. 2025 will be HUGE! With a music anthology in the queue (MAM Records!), a music video challenge and premiere party planned, a forthcoming haiku anthology, and through sponsorships of other artists and events, this is going to be a big year for art and artists in Modesto!
Join the Movement—Be Part of the Art!
Modesto will be the next great city of art in America. But we can’t do it alone. We need YOU.
If you believe in art as a force for positive change in our community, if you want to see creativity thrive in our city, if you want to support the next generation of artists—this is your moment.
🎭 Come to an event.
🖌️ Sponsor an event.
📚 Donate to MAM and help us expand our programs.
Together, we are not just watching an arts movement—we are the movement!
👉 Donate today and help us make Modesto the next great city of art in America! www.modestoartistsmovement.org
#JoinTheMovement #ModestoArts #SupportLocalArtists #BePartOfTheArt
