Are you looking for a place that is alcohol free and safe?
Are you interested in a place to enjoy underground music and up-and-coming local artist?
Now, there is such a place. The Chinatown Youth Center, located downtown in Chinatown is interested in promoting and providing a space for youth to seek out art, help the community, and enjoy underground music.
CYC is part of the non-profit group, Chinatown Revitalization. Anyone interested in contacting the CYC about any upcoming events or to volunteer can visit their website: www.chinatownyouthcenter.org.
“We are a youth center, but that’s really not meant to say we only cater to a specific age group but more so a mindset. We are a open space to anyone with a great idea and that can be beneficial to our community, city, and world,” said Jeremy Brownstein, Head Director of the CYC. “Our main goal is to have an open space for creative expression in which is completely drug, alcohol, and violence free. We’re all students whom attend Fresno City and Fresno State who feel this is a long awaited arrival for Fresno.”
According to information available on the center’s MySpace page, CYC is quickly becoming the newest hot spot for everything underground. It showcases young and edgy Art hop artists as well as pieces that show off the next generation of home-grown artists. The building itself stands out from the other buildings in the neighborhood because it is decorated by graffiti-like work, a form of art that is often looked at as an eye sore.
“The place is awesome, always lots of fun,” said a spokesperson for “Throw It Away,” a local hard-core punk band which has played at CYC. Underground music is what is keeping this place going. The newest of venues has quickly become one of the most popular places for bands to play, and fans to enjoy music. Working only through promoters, CYC is able to keep a number of shows each week, with multiple bands and different styles of music. Along with the music, a variety of different activities take place at the CYC.
Brownstein, a 22 year-old, California State University of Fresno State student, said, “As of right now we have been having band performances during evenings, and Art Hop. Our Art Hop has been amazing; we’ve had a great response from the community with support from Fresno City, Fresno State, and Fresno Arts affiliated artists and advisors.” He added that the center is still looking for artists for the monthly, every first Thursday Art Hops.
“Anyone can show at no price; we encourage amateur artists of all ages to contact us; it’s a great opportunity. . . .We had an open house for the Chinese New Year’s parade in which we had Valentine card making, I Ching fortune telling, a vegan cupcake sale, and face painting.” Planned future events include free after school tutoring sessions, computer skills learning classes, and musical instrument donations for kids.
The center’s website shows a concern for the safety and well being of everyone that attends a show. The site also contains a list of the rules which includes: no alcohol, no drugs, no weapons, no loitering, and no sexual harassment. To attend an activity at the CYC, one only has to pay a dollar membership fee. Brownstein said, “Membership is only required for our musical events. Our membership exempts our musical events until we reach our desired legal standing. All other events including Art Hop are open to the public unless otherwise mentioned. We currently are only open during program hours.
