Grantee Database
MARTINEZ ARTS ASSOCIATION
Grant Year
2025-26
Grant Program
Impact Projects
Award Amount
$18,500.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, Martinez Arts Association, a small arts organization, will present our inaugural Black History Month Festival in February 2026. This program, presented free for the community, will feature an intergenerational lineup of renowned local Black performers spanning jazz, blues, funk, R&B, zydeco, hip-hop, gospel, Afro-Cuban music, poetry, and spoken word as well as visual art from local Black youth artists. The program will be collaboratively developed with community members and respond to a community-defined need to uplift the cultural contributions of under-represented Black artists in the Bay Area and provide culturally responsive programming celebrating Black History Month for Contra Costa County audiences.
Organization Summary
Martinez Arts Association (MAA) provides scholarships to local graduating seniors in the visual arts. In response to budgetary cutbacks to our public schools, the MAA offers grants to teachers for purchasing art supplies for their students.
Our annual Art In the Park program, now in its 54th year, is a free community festival held every August featuring fine arts and craft booths, live music, and food trucks. This event features over 60 artists and is also a fundraising event that supports teacher grants and student scholarships.
We support art exhibits in our Martinez community including at the Martinez Library, Roxx on Main, and The Campbell Theater, John Muir Hospital, and the Contra Costa County Administration Building.
Our Dia de los Muertos program at Ignacio Plaza honors those who have passed away through altars, music, food, and rituals.
Our SWAN (Support Women Artists Now) Day program celebrates women in the arts with live music and fine arts and crafts exhibits.
Our annual Community Arts Award (now in its fifth year) recognizes local artists and arts organizations with a financial award and recognition of their contributions to the arts in Martinez.
Our annual Holiday Boutique showcases over 20 local artisans, artists, and craftspeople with a two-week program at the Old Martinez Train Depot.
Martinez Arts Association was instrumental in bringing the Alhambra Way Mural Project to fruition, featuring work by local artists and including a mural dedication program.
Martinez Arts Association promotes local arts events, exhibits, workshops, and classes in our bi-monthly newsletters.
Organization
Martinez Arts Association
Address
PO BOX 2304
MARTINEZ
94553-0230
County
Contra Costa
Region
Bay Area – Other
Phone
(925) 300-6670
Congressional District
District 8
State Assembly District
District 15
State Senate District
District 9
