In response to the COVID crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature initiated a $60 million program to employ artists to promote awareness of California’s health and public safety initiatives. Emerging from this unique funding program is Rita Hosking, a Northern Californian country-folk troubadour from Berney who has produced one of the first musical projects. Set to release on March 27th, 2024, her collection of short, engaging “public service songs” titled Climate Country Radio is anticipated.
The initiative garnered approval from Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, and Sierra County Arts Councils. The album features six twangy tunes covering topics ranging from emergency preparedness to home insulation, boasting musicians such as Hosking and Sean Feder on vocals, and a roster of other local artists. The album will accompany YouTube videos and be available for free streaming and download via Hosking’s website and Bandcamp. With the specter of extreme weather and other crises looming, Hosking hopes the album will help foster resilient communities through the unifying power of music.
Other local projects funded through the program include outdoor murals at Almanor Park in Chester by the Almanor Recreation and Park District, the Headwaters Stained-Glass project by an artist from the Paiute Nation in Sierra County, raising awareness about the environmental significance of watersheds originating in Sierra County. Additionally, the Sierra County Land Trust, in collaboration with nine artists and writers inspired by the Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin, is working on publishing a book and hosting an exhibition highlighting the importance of preserving high-elevation forests and watersheds in mitigating climate change impacts.
