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A Case of Kindness

Our new 2024 outreach program is to provide luggage, (small suitcase, carry-on size bag, school supplies and toiletries) to children who have been placed in foster care and residential group homes. Youth often arrive with their few belongings in a plastic bag or tote, often having been removed from their home in emergency situations. We hope this suitcase, “a case of kindness” will give them a secure place for their belongings and a sense of ownership for what little they may have. Please go to our DONATE PAGE if you would like to contribute to this important outreach program.

2019 HD Book Fest Pictures

We had a wonderful time at our Fourth Annual 2019 Book Festival. Like many presenters, the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to cancel the book festival for 2020 and 2021. Sadly, having relocated to Los Angeles, we no longer produce the annual High Desert Book Festival.


2020 HIGH DESERT BOOK FESTIVAL

Sadly, due to ongoing concerns with the COVID-19 Pandemic, we were compelled to CANCEL our 2020 HIGH DESERT BOOK FESTIVAL that was Cosponsored by Hesperia Recreation & Park District and the City of Hesperia and was to be held on SATURDAY, September 26, 2020.

Please stay safe and check back with us as we make plans for a VIRTUAL book festival. Check for more festival information at:  High Desert Book Festival site

Cosponsored by:

CAL HUMANITIES QUICK GRANT: Exploring the Literature of the California Desert

We are honored to have been awarded a 2019 CAL HUMANITIES QUICK GRANT for our project Exploring the Literature of the California Desert. Workshops and lectures were held at our 2019 HIGH DESERT BOOK FESTIVAL. Other writing workshops, readings and public discussions of prose and poetry inspired by the California Desert will be held throughout 2020.  Continue reading

2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Our nonprofit is proud of our sixth year continuing our relationship as a Region-at-Large Partner with Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in New York City. It is a century-old national arts and writing competition program for creative teens in grades 7-12. Please contact us if you would like to participate as a juror. Past Alumni from the Award’s 100-year history include Truman Capote, Sylvia Plath, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King and Amanda Gorman.

Barnes & Noble Book Fair


Our nonprofit is privileged to have had a couple of these wonderful fundraisers through Barnes & Noble, where a percentage of the sales for a given week are targeted to a specific nonprofit. We will let you know when another of these is coming up and provide you with the code to enter for purchases in store and online. Please give us a call at 760-900-6822 or email info@vicartsed.org if you might be able to help staff the table during one of the book fairs. AND…remember how important it is to support brick and mortar bookstores!