(gentle ambient music) - [Announcer] It's a huge day for students at the Fresno Unified School District, here at M Street Arts.

Teachers and their students from TK to 12th grade are getting ready to open the doors for the Citywide Monthly Art Exhibit Art Hop, where galleries around Fresno celebrate the arts.

This is the Arts Education Center Gallery.

It's filled with students' creations, showcasing creativity for a cause, like this piece by sixth grader, Jaelynn.

- I made the drums, because I feel like that even all the different kind of instruments that you have, like can be any different instrument, and they're all different.

So when you bring them together, they can make really beautiful music.

- [Announcer] Bringing students together through art has long been the goal of Fresno Unified.

The district previously leased space downtown to showcase students' creativity, but this space is all their own.

This new gallery on M Street opened in 2024 as part of an effort called "Relevant Engagement Through Art and Literacy."

Jaelynn has brought her entire family to see how her small piece of art is making a big impact.

- The dark side is that even if you're like feeling down, and like sad, there's always gonna be a happy time.

And with different people, like different people can help you in a time, where you're sad, that'll make you happy.

- The vibe is happy, the vibe is celebratory, students are happy to see their work in a professional-looking gallery, their parents and families and community members are even more excited to see student work in the gallery.

- [Narrator] Alana Shapazian Hill is a teacher on special assignment for the Fresno Arts Education Department, and says, "Teachers are using art to explore real-life issues, like identity, justice, and what it means to be seen and heard."

This year's theme is about celebrating diversity, and fostering empathy.

- Art is important to the school district, because it's a humanity.

It's something that's gonna bring everyone together, it's something that builds community, and shares those stories.

So these are student stories, these are things that are important to them, and it's their amazing teachers that kind of bring that out of them, and that's what we need the students to know.

We need the students to know that they're here to share, and they're here to tell their stories.

- [Narrator] Turnout tonight is huge with music, singing, and families focused on their students' accomplishment.

The exhibit is curated, and a best-of-show winner is selected.

Each wall is filled with intentional art to teach empathy, and speaking your truth.

(ambient music) - Families come in, and it's just a look of awe, whether we're, you know, looking at ceramics, or paintings, or even media arts, we started to do some video with our students, they're just happy that their kids are self-expressing, and it's in a nice gallery that looks professional.

Sometimes those stories bring tears to the eye, sometimes the stories are just a celebration of their diversity of the community itself, and so that energy that comes into the gallery is really what makes us special.

- Art really helps me with self-expression, because I feel like I can put things on a painting, drawing page, whatever, without words, and it really says a lot without having to say anything.

I think it's really important to have diversity and empathy, I am a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and so diversity is something that is always important to me, and I also think it's really important, especially in recent times for the world to have empathy and kindness.

- [Narrator] With more than 50 classrooms taking part in "The Relevant Engagement Through Art and Literacy Program", the results are already starting to show.

More students than ever now have the opportunity for the public to view their work at Art Hop, and other special events.

The program has the support of district leaders, and the Fresno Unified Board of Education, providing art supplies, literature, and professional development, creating a lifelong impact.

Young Jaelynn is proof.

- I wanna be a teacher too, so I think I would be, I would wanna be an art teacher.

- [Narrator] And as for that best-of-show winner?

It's Daniel's Courageous Collage.

- I didn't know that.

I had no idea.

(Daniel laughing) It's pretty exciting to know that.

I've put a lot of effort and time into it, so it's really nice knowing that my art piece that really means a lot to me was put out for people to see.

(ambient music ending) - [Narrator] Relevant Engagement Through Art and Literacy kicked off in 2016 with 12 teachers from across Fresno Unified.

Since then, students have tackled thought-provoking themes, like freedom, what is home, and human trafficking.

(gentle music ending)