Updated March 22, 2024: California Humanities has announced the recent round of “Humanities For All Quick Grant” awards. San José Museum of Art (SJMA) has been awarded funding for a unique creative residency, entitled First Friday: Hip Hop(e), Jazz & Storytelling.  

The “Humanities For All Quick Grant” is a competitive grant program of California Humanities that supports locally-initiated public humanities projects that respond to the needs and interests of Californians, encourages greater public participation in humanities programming, particularly by new and/or underserved audiences, and promotes understanding and empathy among all our state’s peoples in order to cultivate a thriving democracy. 

First Friday: Hip Hop(e), Jazz & Storytelling is a three-part series that will offer community members new ways to engage with exhibition themes of migration, identity, self-love, and inclusion through written and spoken word. The series will feature Francis Experience, with Jonathan Borca and co-founder Gabby Horlick (drums), and include standout musicians Bennett Roth (keys and vocals), and Miguel “Frunkyman” Leyva (bass). Together, the quartet blends rap, poetry, and storytelling, which will be augmented by SJ Storyboard’s digital art and a series of featured poets. The residency will be offered on SJMA’s late-night “First Fridays” with open galleries, held from 6–9pm on November 3, 2023 (with Mighty Mike McGee), April 5, 2024 (with Rosanna Alvarez), and May 3, 2024 (with Tshaka Campbell). 

“California Humanities is excited to welcome our newest round of Quick Grant awards,” said the organization's new President and CEO Rick Noguchi. “In addition to using a variety of mediums to creatively engage new and long-standing audiences, these projects are also providing a unique humanities lens for discussing California histories and cultures, and important community issues.” 

A complete list of all “Humanities For All Quick Grants” can be found on the calhum.org website here.  

California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment of the Humanities, promotes the humanities—focused on ideas, conversation and learning—as relevant, meaningful ways to understand the human condition and connect us to each other in order to help strengthen California. California Humanities has provided grants and programs across the state since 1975. To learn more visit calhum.org, or follow California Humanities on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART 

The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, its dynamic exhibitions, collection, and programs resonate with defining characteristics of San José and the Silicon Valley—from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. The Museum offers lifelong learning for school children and their educators, multigenerational families, creative adults, university students and faculty, and community groups. SJMA is committed to being a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and beyond. 

SJMA is located at 110 South Market Street in downtown San José, California. The Museum is open Thursday 4–9pm; Friday 11am–9pm; Saturday–Sunday 11am–6pm; and select Monday holidays. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and free to members, college students, youth and children ages 17 and under, and school teachers (with valid ID). Admission is free from 6–9pm on the first Friday of every month. For up-to-date information, call 408.271.6840 or visit SanJoseMuseumofArt.org.