There is no organization in our county that connects more artists, students, cultural nonprofits and partners to visual and performing arts. Each year we expand our capacity to ensure that everyone benefits from high quality arts programs, including developing strategic partnerships in every supervisorial district in our community. Our guiding strategy is to support artists, teaching artists and arts organizations wherever there are substantial gaps – whether by demographics (low-income), location (rural) or by circumstances (at-risk-youth), we provide direct services. Today, we strengthen the ability of hundreds of artists, cultural groups and arts organizations to effectively serve our residents, as we present award-winning projects and programs that help address our communities’ greatest needs through the arts, serving our residents in English and Spanish.

Arts Education – Our Professional Artists in the Schools is a cornerstone program providing teaching artist residencies in 40 partner schools, reaching more than 26,000 students. Our Arts as Healing program provides specialized classes for at-risk youth, people with disabilities, senior citizens and veterans, weaving creative mastery with social and emotional learning to develop their truest potential.

Capacity Building – We stimulate the creative economy through the development of artists and arts organizations. Since 1985, artists, nonprofits, and cultural groups maximize their reach and deepen impact through our grant funding, training and consultations. Further support includes professional development workshops on grant writing, marketing and advocacy. We also provide affordable art studios to local emerging artists through our ArtWorks program.

Community Partnerships – We are often approached to strengthen and connect arts programming to crucial community needs. We have provided services such as a hands-on arts program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for historically-excluded Salinas teenagers, visual arts programs at Rancho Cielo Youth Center for at-risk young adults and a mural beautification project at the Veterans Transition Center.