2024 has been a year of milestones and fostering creativity for JDS Creative Academy (JDSCA) Through its Title-17 job training program, extracurricular classes, and engaging community events, the organization solidified its place as a leading force in the creative community of the Inland Empire.
At the start of 2024, the nonprofit kicked off the year by rebranding its magazine-style news and information television show from Spirit of Innovation: News & Information to Spirit of Innovation: Arts Across America. This change aligns with the Creative Academy’s mission to spread the arts across the America, while still delivering the important “good-to-know”, “need-to-know”, and impactful stories for Riverside County.
Spirit of Innovation also introduced a new segment: The Community Roundtable. The show invites local stakeholders, such as business owners and nonprofit leaders, to discuss important issues in the community and beyond. The show’s ratings have soared to new heights. Spirit of Innovation: Arts Across America has always been broadcast on local TV stations, YouTube, and social media, and now, the television show reaches an even larger and broader audience than ever before, streaming on Binge Network’s 150 platforms, Tubi TV, and apps Amazon Fire and Roku.
In April, JDSCA hosted its signature event, DigiFest®Temecula, for the eighth consecutive year. This multimedia festival brings digital creativity and a slice of Hollywood to Temecula, drawing in visitors from across the country to celebrate the digital art world. DigiFest® 2025 is already underway, with early submissions open now! Mark your calendars for the ninth annual three-day event on April 25th, 26th, and 27th, 2025!
The spring showcase highlighted the semester’s creative talent! JDS Creative Academy transported audiences over the rainbow with its musical theater production of The Wizard of Oz, while its filmmaking class showcased their student-created films on the big screen. In addition, JDSCA’s annual two-week acclaimed script-to-stage summer camp gave creatives of all kinds the opportunity to dive into the world of theater production, from scriptwriting and set building to creating a spectacular original production and performance.
Then in August, the nonprofit marked a major milestone—its 10-year anniversary. Over 200 guests attended a celebratory event to honor the organization’s achievements and impact over the past decade. The studio’s musical theater and acting students performed emotional skits and an amusing medley that showcased JDSCA’s 10 years of creativity.
Soon after, the fall creative classes began, kicking off the start of a new semester of scriptwriting, filmmaking, and musical theater. The backstage production class not only assisted with sets, props, and costumes for the Winter Showcase musical production of The Addams Family: School Edition but also collaborated with the Design / Build / HAUNT class to create the annual Haunted Studio Fundraiser. This year JDS Studio was transformed into a haunted library, bringing horror books and scary stories to life.
JDS Creative Academy not only serves its students and participants but also the community with a reach that spreads throughout the nation — donating over $10,000.00 a year to provide scholarships to higher arts education, support other nonprofits, and ensure that the arts are accessible to all. Be a part of their mission! Support the organization by attending performances, entering or attending DigiFest®2025, watching Spirit of Innovation: Arts Across America, and engaging with their social media accounts. Also, you can collaborate and/or donate to their cause; JDS Creative Academy makes the workforce more inclusive by providing creative career opportunities to trained skilled adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
As 2024 comes to a close, JDSCA is excited for the future. With plans to move the Arts Across America already in place for 2025, the nonprofit is gearing up for another incredible year of growth, creative expression, and community impact.
About JDS Creative Academy
JDS Creative Academy is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization based in Temecula, California, and hosts DigiFestⓇ Temecula. The organization is dedicated to inspiring, educating, and enhancing achievement in video production and workforce development. With a focus on visual, performing, and digital arts, JDS Creative Academy offers programs for youth, teens, adults, and mainstream and diverse populations to foster an inclusive environment. For more information, visit www.jdscreativeacademy.org or call JDS Studio at (951) 296-6715.