Cultivating the arts in rural communities of the San Joaquin valley

Unrestricted This thesis investigates an emerging genre of "rural art practices" that explore the intersections between art and rural contexts. It also serves as a guide to cultivating the arts in the rural communities of California's San Joaquin Valley. First, case studies of rural art practices found within the San Joaquin Valley provide a portrait of the region, revealing its rich heritage and distinguishing attributes. Next, an evaluation of selected case studies that foster the arts in rural contexts in the United States and Ireland provides a sampling of the field and resource of best practices. Ultimately, this thesis demonstrates how effective strategies and lessons learned from diverse examples of rural art practices can contribute to the development of the arts in other rural areas.