Santa Cruz City Arts

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Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz City Arts

Public Art. Creative Culture. City of Santa Cruz Arts Commission, Department of Economic Development & Friends of City Arts (that's you!)

Vision
The Santa Cruz Arts Commission believes that the arts are vital to our quality of life and understanding of the human condition. We envision Santa Cruz as a vibrant arts destination that inspires visitor delight and enhances community pride. We imagine a Santa Cruz in which all forms of public art are widely accessible and all residents have opportunities to engage through the arts. We adva

nce a culture in which artists are valued for their unique expressions and invited to partner in reimagining our City. Mission
The Santa Cruz City Arts Commission champions the arts as essential to daily life by supporting a vibrant arts culture, enlivening our public spaces and shaping innovative city policy. Values

Quality of Life
Public art and policy improve our community’s quality of life.
• Contributes to collective and individual well-being.
• Positions the arts as a community resource.
• Instills pride, stewardship of place, cultural identity, interest and investment in the city of Santa Cruz.
• Stimulates and supports economic development.
• Leads to a community understanding of the value of the arts in their everyday lives. Accessibility
Public art opportunities, processes, and policies are accessible and understandable.
• Welcomes and encourages community participation in the arts.
• Processes, goals and policies are fully transparent and easily accessible.
• Clearly communicates opportunities for participation to all members of our community. Collaboration
Public art and policy engages diverse members of our community to represent the city’s distinctive cultural identity.
• Catalyzes and strengthens collaborations with organizations, community groups, individuals and other departments of the city.
• Bring members of our community together in meaningful ways.
• Expresses and enhances local stories, interests, traditions, places and culture in Santa Cruz to foster a sense of belonging. Vibrancy
Public art contributes to a vibrant and energized arts community.
• Highly visible, celebrated and experienced throughout the city.
• Energizes the community to participate in the arts and reimagine their city.
• Forms and functions are multisensory, multidisciplinary, permanent or temporary.
• Creates visitor delight and enriches Santa Cruz as an arts destination.

12/08/2025

We’re looking forward to celebrating local creativity at the Tannery Winter Art Market!

With 20+ open artist studios, tasty local bites, and live music 🎶, it’s a must do this holiday! Plus we are really excited to check out the new public art installations! ✨
This is a FREE, family-friendly event 🎨

📍 Tannery Arts Center - 1030-1070 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
📅 Dec 13 | 10am - 5pm

10/06/2025

The Last Community Design Forum for the Bethany Bridge project will take place at the Tannery Arts Center in the Community Room, Monday October 13th @ 5:30pm🌊

Future Community Actions:
The community will be invited to help fabricate the mosaics. We expect this work to begin around November 1st and continue for 4-5 months. The work will be done at a studio we are setting up at the Tannery Arts Center. We encourage you to come learn a new skill and have a hand in the work that will be part of your neighborhood.

09/12/2025

📣 Community Input Wanted! 📣

Submit ideas for design of Bethany Curve Bridge Mosaics using the link in bio 🔗

09/05/2025

Celebrate 40 years of Open Studios — a free, self-guided art tour showcasing 340+ local artists over three weekends every October.

Studios are open 11am–5pm

● Oct 4–5: South County
● Oct 11–12: North County
● Oct 18–19: All County

Plan Your Visit
Artist Directory & FAQ’s: santacruzopenstudios.com

Digital Artist Guide
Printed Artist Guide: Available mid-Sept
App: Santa Cruz County Open Studios (iTunes & Google Play, mid-Sept)

Preview Exhibits
Santa Cruz Art League: Sept 26–Oct 19
Pajaro Valley Arts: Sept 20–Oct 19

Follow:

DISCOVER the 40th Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour
EXPERIENCE the creative process first hand
CONNECT with artists and purchase directly

Open Studios Art Tour is a program of Arts Council Santa Cruz County

Sponsored by GoodTimes & West Coast Community Bank

07/17/2025

Thanks to the quick and generous work of Jake Ingham from , the Pride-themed traffic signal box at Broadway and Branciforte has been fully repaired after it was vandalized earlier this month. Jake volunteered his time and materials to restore the artwork at no cost. Thank you, Jake and Catto’s Graphics, for all you do for our community and helping to restore this beautiful art work!

The original art, created by the Muskequeers, was part of a City Arts funded initiative to paint several utility boxes across the city with Pride-themed imagery, in partnership with Santa Cruz Pride to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride this year.

05/28/2025

We are 100% in sharing ’s event! 💛🎨

Help Spread the Word! Be part of the movement for justice and equity in Santa Cruz! The SC Equity Collab is organizing another community BLM mural repaint event, and we need your help to make it a success.

How You Can Help:
💛 Share on social media using
💛Forward to friends and family who might want to participate or donate
💛 Post in community groups to reach more volunteers

Every share helps us build a stronger, more inclusive Santa Cruz community. This mural isn’t just paint on pavement—it’s a symbol of our ongoing commitment to racial justice and equity for all.

05/16/2025

New public art ‘Feast of Flowers’ has bloomed in Santa Cruz! We met with artist Jenni Ward on site as the six umbel flowers are being installed. As an artist in the City Arts CARD pilot grant program, her vision of play and for us all to connect with the nature we see around us has come to life. We are thrilled with this latest public art addition!

Fabricated on the westside and now planted on the Rail Trail at CA and Bay.

There’s still the landscaping and final touches to do - the official opening Segment 7.2 soon. Keep an eye out for the ribbon cutting date and join us!

pc: Crystal Birns Photography

05/08/2025

✨ Happening at the Tannery 🌟

Join us at the annual Spring Art Market! Head over to the Tannery Arts Center for a day full of art, music, food, and community vibes.

Wander through the campus and studios, meet 40+ local artists and makers, and discover one-of-a-kind treasures—from ceramics and textiles to prints, jewelry, sweet treats, and more. It’s the perfect spot to find something special for the Mom in your life. 💚

🗓 Saturday, May 10 | ⏰ 10AM–5PM
📍 Tannery Arts Center, Santa Cruz
🌿 Free & family-friendly

🎶 Live music by La Otra Banda & Cement Ship
🎧 Courtyard DJ sets by Jason Santiago LaCour
🎶 Special theatrical performance shorts presented by the Colligan Theater
🎨 Art demos, open studios, kids’ collage table & henna
🍴 Eats from Santa Cruz Eatery, Pleasure Point Tacos, River Dogs
🍻 Discretion Beer + wine options

Support your creative community—shop small, meet the makers, and celebrate the power of local art.

Produced by Arts Council Santa Cruz County

04/17/2025

¡🎉 Estamos emocionados de celebrar con Senderos su próximo evento Guelaguetza! 🌟
Join us on Sunday, April 27th, as we celebrate with Senderos for their 20 years in Santa Cruz, CA! 🎊

We are excited for a week of festivities! It’s a special 20 year anniversary this year – look for family friendly events throughout the week leading up to the incredible Guelaguetza festival.

April 23 - Convite/procession and Fiesta

· 5-6PM - Sidewalk procession from Branciforte Small Schools down Water St. to Pacific Avenue ending at Cooper Street, downtown Santa Cruz

· 6-8PM - Cooper Street Fiesta

· April 24 - Music & Mole

April 27 - Guelaguetza

The Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza is an authentic cultural festival with food, dance, music, and crafts presented each spring by Senderos. This local festival is like the traditional fiestas celebrated each summer in Oaxaca, Mexico. Guelaguetza is a Zapotec word that means “a commitment of sharing and cooperation.” Guelaguetza is a celebration that honors the gods for sufficient rainfall and a bountiful harvest.

01/14/2025

In today’s competitive business landscape, inclusivity is more than just a buzzword—it’s a business imperative. 🤝 Join us for an exclusive event that will explore how fostering LGBTQ+ inclusion can elevate your organization’s success by increasing revenue, boosting retention, and cultivating a culture of respect. 🌈

📆 January 16, 2025
⏰ 9-11am
📍

🔗 Head to the link in bio to learn more and register!

10/09/2024

Our neighbors at San Jose Cultural Affairs are celebrating the completion of their pilot year with a symposium “dedicated to advancing sustainability and mobilizing climate action in the art and cultural sector.”

See the invite and details below & in bio – very cool opportunity to get together and learn from industry leaders. Pre-Registration is required and is free.

San Jose -

Join us for a two-day exploration of sustainable practices in the Bay Area cultural sector. Our symposium will bring together arts and cultural leaders along with industry experts to explore and share strategies for addressing climate change and creating a more sustainable future.

Day 1 Highlights:

Power of Resource Creation & Funding

Bay Area Cultural Institution Sustainability Initiatives

San José Resilient Artists

Networking Lunch & More

Day 2 Highlights:

Sustainable Exhibitions and Impact Assessments

Waste Reduction and Management Strategies

Natural Dyeing and Fungal Technologies

Free Art Supply Swap

San José Resilient Artist Exhibition

09/30/2024

Sharing a Call for Artists! We’re excited for a new mural that will have such an impact - located at the corner of Front Street and Soquel Ave. (across from New Leaf and CVS). A new significant construction project is underway and Local Language Art group is seeking submissions for the mural work- they are taking applications now through Oct 30!

From their call and info -

Searching for local muralists! Amazing opportunity for an approx 7 story / 85’h mural on the side of a new development in the heart of Santa Cruz. Be a part of the city landscape and public arts community for years to come.

Buscando muralistas locales de SANTA CRUZ! Increíble oportunidad para un mural exterior de aproximadamente 7 pisos / 85’ de altura en un nuevo desarrollo en el corazón de Santa Cruz. Sea parte de la comunidad de arte público y paisaje de la ciudad en los años venideros...

Click the link in our bio for application instructions.

Address

Santa Cruz, CA

Telephone

+18314205150

Website

http://www.SantaCruzCityArts.com/

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