Grantee Database
Community Arts & Empowerment
Grant Year
2026-27
Grant Program
Impact Projects
Award Amount
$17,500.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, COMMUNITY ARTS & EMPOWERMENT will foster intergenerational healing and cultural connection through a collaborative public art installation at Watsonville’s Senior Center. CAC funds will support California-based artist Julian De La Cruz to co-create a large-scale painted mural integrating hand-crafted mosaic butterflies made by paired youth and senior community members. At least 40 butterfly mosaics — each a collaboration between one young person and one elder — will be designed and fabricated together, centering community voice and multigenerational artistic practice. The completed work will adorn the newly renovated Senior Center, creating a lasting, publicly accessible symbol of resilience and shared cultural identity for Watsonville’s historically under resourced Latinx community. Youth participants will also assist Jessica in painting the surrounding mural.
Organization Summary
Through community engagement, we help identify the values of a neighborhood and the visual aesthetics of its members. We seek out local artists to assist in the design of local community-based public artwork and facilitate community builds for the fabrication of permanent public art.
Our process empowers communities by encouraging their members to spend time with each other, defining their social and physical identities. Returning individuals teach and learn new skills together for the benefit of all; transforming a physical space into a magical place.
We operate a free after-school mosaic arts center in Watsonville for youth aged 11-22. We are open 5 days a week for 25 hours. Youth are engaged in all the phases needed to create public art mosaics in their community. Our largest project is called Watsonville Brillante, and consists of 12,500 square feet of mosaics covering the Watsonville Civic Parking Garage.
Our process empowers communities by encouraging its members to spend time with each other defining their social and physical identities. Returning individuals teach and learn new skills together for the benefit of the all; transforming a physical space into a magical place.
We operate a free afterschool mosaic arts center in Watsonville for youth aged 11-22. We are open 5 days a week for 25 hours. Youth are engaged in all the phases needed to create public art mosaics in thier community. Our current project is called Watsonville Brillante and when completed will consist of 12,500 square feet of mosaics covering the Watsonville Civic Parking Garage.
Organization
Community Arts & Empowerment
Address
240 MAPLE AVE
WATSONVILLE
95076-4815
County
Santa Cruz
Region
Central Coast
Website
