CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Rural Arts Initiative has donated $500 to the Clearlake Wildlife Youth Art Project, sponsored by the Children’s Museum of Art and Science and the Art House Gallery in Clearlake.

The initiative, or LCRAI, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is a proponent of art education and supporting economic success by making Lake County an “arts destination.”

The group strives to be the catalyst for arts and culture as a driving force in Lake County’s economic development and enrichment.

LCRAI is dedicated to supporting the future success of the children in Lake County by bringing the arts back into education. The $500 donation toward the project will aide in the funding of materials and supplies for students to begin their project.

The Clearlake Wildlife Youth Art Project hopes to encourage youth to nurture their interest for the visual arts, expand wildlife awareness in Lake County and add public art around the community.

Art education has been known to increase test scores across every subject area, lower dropout rates and close the achievement gap regardless of socioeconomic status. Most importantly, it is the basis for developing the number one attribute sought by today’s and future employers, innovation and creativity.

LCRAI is partnering with Lake County schools to help fund the expanded arts program the schools want and need; utilizing art teachers, local artists and combining the arts with more traditional subjects.

In LCRAI’s mission to make Lake County an arts destination, it will partner with the community and work to support and fund current and new art spaces and studios, build economic clusters (“hiveries” – cultural/arts facilities linked with local businesses), create unique art installations with the Mural Trail Project and promote a strong accessible arts community with an interactive art map, artist directory and events calendar at www.LCRAI.org.

“We are proud to support the Clearlake Youth Art Project and will continue to partner with organizations in Lake County to help fund art programs. Supporting the success of the children in our county is a high priority for us,” said Conni Lemen-Kosla, co-founder of LCRAI.

“We want to thank the Lake County Rural Arts Initiative for recognizing the Clearlake Wildlife Youth Art Project from the Children’s Museum of Art and Science and the Art House Gallery. We now have 11 youth murals in Clearlake. The donation from LCRAI, will help us purchase more paint and supplies, so our talented youth can continue the Clearlake Wildlife Art Challenge and create more murals for Lake County.” said Stephanie Figueroa, president of the Children’s Museum of Art and Science.

LCRAI was nominated for the 2018 Lake County Chamber of Commerce “Best Idea of the Year” Star Award.