Arts and Ag



After realizing artists’ limitations to access private,beautiful farmlands, artist and farmer Annie Mainreached out to the Yolo County Arts Council andtogether they created the Art and Ag Project. Thisunique project has brought together farmers, ranchersand artists from around the county to address thisneed. The Art and Ag Project offers as many as fiftyartists annually to visit farms, meet with farmers andcreate art in "plein air." The project also helps torevitalize the farmlands and to increase awareness ofthe significance of preserving farmlands and visualarts. The Art and Ag Project is a collaborative effort ofYoloArts, the Davis Farmers Market Foundation andthe Yolo Land Trust.

Description
Annually, the Art and Ag Project hosts the Art Farm  exhibition and the Art Harvest fundraising event. The  Art  Harvest includes an auction, a limited number of  harvest chances, and food and wine grown and  produced in Yolo County.

This project has proven to be so successful that they recently received a grant from ArtPlace America for  providing a model for other communities that want to showcase their ties to their land and American agriculture.

The Art and Ag project has been recognized as a leader in intertwining the arts into economic development, and it has added vibrancy in the Yolo communities.



Being the first of its kind, the Art and Ag project brings together Yolo County’s rich heritage of farming, gorgeous working landscapes, and a large group of local artists. The program has helped to create public support for the balance between urban areas and open farmland and it helps to create social and economic vibrancy throughout the community.

 Given the growing awareness and support of the importance of local food in health, the environment, and the economy, the Art and Ag project could provide more of a spotlight on our existing agricultural community and help to revive and grow our rich farming culture. There are vast lands in the Upstate that artists can use as inspiration for their art. The Art and Ag project can also help bring more attention to the rural parts of our communities.