Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Foundation

The Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Foundation (MVCAF) mission is to support the cultural, visual, and performing arts within the City of Moreno Valley through grants, the provision of technical expertise, services, promotion of public awareness. The MVCAF is a non-profit, public corporation and exempted from federal taxes under the IRS tax code section 501 (c) (3).

Founded in 1986, the incorporated, MVCAF has fostered the successful beginnings of several community arts programs. In 2011, the new President and CEO, Richard L. F. Archer has charted a new course for the grass-roots MVCAF to provide opportunities to artists of all disciplines and to advocate for the return of the arts in education. The MVCAF seeks to create partnerships between artists and with local commerce, government, education, faith-based organizations, other community organizations, and the community-at-large to positively impact the quality of life within our City of Moreno Valley. Through the establishment of a vibrant arts environment in Moreno Valley, MVCAF works to have a direct impact on reversing the decline in the local economy, improve education, stem the drop-out rate, and improve the image of the City. The arts can be a major driver in tourism to capitalize on the multiplier effect; money being spent at a number of local businesses throughout Moreno Valley due to an art event.

In August 2012, the MVCAF established its Vanguard Community Art Gallery at the Moreno Valley Mall. The Vanguard showcases the art of local artists throughout the Inland Empire. The Vanguard moved to its current location at the Stoneridge Towne Center, 27120 Eucalyptus Avenue, Suite A, Moreno Valley, CA 92555 in May 2014 and changed the name to the Vanguard Cultural Arts Museum. The Vanguard has hosted exhibitions of several prominent artists along side of a variety of emerging artists. The Vanguard also plays host to a Poetry Reading and a local student art exhibition that occurs on the first Friday of every month at 6:30 PM. Every third Saturday, from noon to 5 PM, MVCAF has its Vanguard Outdoor Art Expo (art walk) featuring outdoor displays of local artists and craftspeople. MVCAF is working with another company to expand the Art Expo to include an organic farmers market. MVCAF has live music events on a regular basis and usually on Saturday nights. A writers group meets every other Sunday. On Saturday, November 1, the MVCAF has its First Annual MoVal Dia De Los Muertos Fiesta featuring live entertainment, custom car displays, a kids fun zone, costume contest, artists, craftspeople and much more. All of these events have been free to the public.

MVCAF is developing an arts apprenticeship targeting at-risk high school students in an effort to keep them in school and to provide them a sensible pathway towards a bright future. Students from Moreno Valley College and the MVUSD are volunteering at our Vanguard. The Foundation seeks to establish an arts scholarship program that will provide much needed funds to students wishing to go on to a university, college or technical school with a concentration in one of the arts. We look to be a strong voice for every student in Moreno Valley public schools regarding the arts.

MVCAF has a dedicated public service component. We began our work with Project Rudolph to provide handmade Christmas ornaments, letters, cards, and candy to be distributed among our troops stationed overseas to show our appreciation of our military and their families.

At the start of the year, MVCAF began its Empty Bowl Project with a grant from the Community Foundation. The focus of the project was to call attention to the over 3000 homeless students and their families that are enrolled at MVUSD. Artists from as far away as Shanghai, China transformed bowls into an artistic statement about homelessness. MVCAF partnered with the Moreno Valley Salvation Army, Path of Life Ministries, and the Valley View High School in the creation of a documentary about the project to create awareness to both the problem and possible solutions. The bowls were auctions in June 2014 and over $2000 was raised to create the Moreno Valley Homeless Family Assistance Fund that provided hotel vouchers for families in need.

To date, we remain an all volunteer organization. MVCAF looks to partner with companies that want to share in its vision and bring these programs into fruition. The Foundation is working with legal and financial experts to set up endowments and plan giving programs to take the organization to its next level of growth. MVCAF has a remarkable track record of accomplishment despite their limited funds. We are growing along with our long list of achievements. Your donation, big or small, helps us keep the "dream" moving forward towards becoming reality. We encourage you to join in to help us be the catalyst for positive change within the City of Moreno Valley.