Open Studios 2024

A FREE, self-guided, countywide art tour the first three weekends in October.

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Current Grantees

Current Grantees

Two women performing

Create Grants June 2024 Awards

Funding for artists and organizations for an arts and/or cultural project taking place in Santa Cruz County

Rip florence grantee
Bryant (aka Rip Florence) Miguel

Vinyl Record of Houseless Orators, Local Activists & Experimental Music

ripflorence.net/sdr

Carlos campos grantee
Carlos Campos

Too Little Too Late, a Pajaro Flood Documentary
instagram.com/bazinga_charlie

Circulo de poetas grantee
Círculo de poetas and Writers

Círculo de poetas & Writers 2024 Summer Conference at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

circulowriters.com

Community Music School Group shot Mar23 copy
Community Music School of Santa Cruz

Free after-school music classes in Live Oak

communitymusicschool.org

Dual demons grantee
Dual Demons

Dual Demons - November Variety Show 2024

dualdemons.org

Esperanza farms grantee
Esperanza Community Farms

Birthing new hxstories: Our interconnected farming stories in Pájaro Valley

esperanzacommunityfarms.org

Eugenia Renteria
Eugenia Renteria

Short doc film about local midwife and founder of Campesinx Womb Justice, Maria Ascención Ramos Bracamontes.
inspira-studios.com

Irene Oconnell grantee
Irene O'Connell

Art & Resistance in Santa Cruz County: Community Art Build & Skillshare

xirenitaarts.com

Mi Gente CA Afro Latine grantee
Isabel Contreras

Mi Gente CA’s Annual Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month Festival

migenteca.org

Jovita molina grantee
Jovita Molina

"Jovita la mas Bonita Bibliotecaria" Mural on the outside wall of the Library at Alianza Charter School in Watsonville

Nina berry grantee
Nina Berry

Mending Party at the Hub for Sustainable Living, Summer/Fall 2024
9aberry.com

Renegade Theater Co grantee
Renegade Theater Co.

Guys and Dolls performance July 26-28, 2024

renegadetheaterco.org

Samba ngo grantee
Samba Ngo

"Legends Among Us," Honoring our Elders in the Arts, at Kuumbwa Jazz, Santa Cruz 2024

sambangomusic.com

Mabiba Baegne an elder teaching the younger generations
Vivien Bassouamina

13th Annual Kikulu Kia Nza Dance and Drum Conference 2024
dancecongo.com

Develop Grants June 2024 Awards

Professional development funding for artists and arts organizations

Abigail grantee
Abigael Snyder

Laptop for Music Production

instagram.com/abigaelelizabethmusic

Chris Johnson grantee
Chris Johnson

Development of unique glass color process

ChrisJohnsonGlass.com

Chris Lynch grantee
Chris Lynch

A filmed violin performance to expand concert booking opportunities

chrislynchmusic.com

Effiebenjamin 7
Effie Benjamin

Investing in Film and Print Equipment to Expand Photography Business

effiebenjamin.com

Gabriela bravo grantee
Gabriela Bravo

Finish recording, mixing and mastering GABI BRAVO full album by Noiseeater studios.

instagram.com/gabi.bravomusic

Gina garcia grantee
Gina Garcia

Studying Bollywood Dance in Bangalore

worldanz.com

Screenshot 2024 06 07 at 9 41 00 AM
Justin Francavilla

Printmaking Equipment to Expand Business

justinfrancavilla.com

Meghan Oona Clifford 2022 grantee
Meghan Oona Clifford

Animation equipment to develop a new body of work that merges traditional painting with animation.

meghanoonaclifford.com

Rachel barnes grantee
Rachel Barnes

10 Week Wheel Throwing Course with Abigael (The Woodland Pottery) at the Tannery

humanshapedanimal.com

Thomas Goldie

4x5 camera to create portfolio for MFA programs and artist residences.

Victoria martinez grantee
Victoria Martinez Bribiesca

Purchasing a computer to expand my creative business.

instagram.com/victorias.arts831

Create Grant January 2024 Awards

Funding for artists and organizations for an arts and/or cultural project taking place in Santa Cruz County

Hermelinda Vasquez Matias
Hermelinda Matias

A workshop on how to carve and paint an Alebrije with an exhibition in Watsonville in March/April 2024

Alex Rocha Alvarez Grantee
Alex Rocha-Alvarez

Resilience in the Remnants of Watsonville's Farmworker Labor Camps: Storytelling Event

Damara Ganley

Ground Pressure A Site Specific Dance Theater Performance 2024

Rosalie Hamilton by Abram Katz Grantee
Rosalie Hamilton

Empowering Through Lens: Fostering Diversity and Vision in Entrepreneurial Women. Instagram.com/rosedayalphoto

Jessamine Rosaura de Lancey Grantee
Jessamine DeLancey

Dancing Nature: The Sacred Breath. Silvestretraining.com

Move Speak Spin Grantee
MoveSpeakSpin

This project will support the performance of a new dance concert, Calculated Movements, mathematical dance work that connects with movements for social change, in fall, 2024 in Santa Cruz. Mathdance.org

Dajohn Dewitt Grantee
DaJohn DeWitt

Santa Cruz annual Prideteenth Fashion Show

Mara Milam Grantee
Mara Milam

Unveiling Motion Pacific: A Documentary Journey Through a Community Hub, Culminating in the Final Cabaret Before the Studio's Relocation. Maramilam.com

San Lorenzo Valley Museum Grantee
San Lorenzo Valley Museum

San Lorenzo Valley Museum Artist in Residence Program. Slvmuseum.org

Alwa Gordon Grantee
Alwa Gordon

10 SECONDS LEFT, A Collaborative EP between Alwa Gordon & Alexandra The Author. Instagram.com/alwagordon

Develop Grant January 2024 Awards

Professional development funding for artists and arts organizations

Bounkeua Violin Headshot Photo Credit Ruth Christopherson
Samantha Bounkeua

Replacing and upgrading outdated Apple Macbook for more reliable and stable use of digital recording and mixing softwares in string-driven music production studio. Rogueviolin.com

Devi pride grantee
Devi Pride

Video equipment to expand current business and return to documentary filmmaking. Devipridephotography.com

Laura De Angelis Grantee
Laura DeAngelis

Upgrade DSLR camera to support higher resolution images and expand printing capabilities. Lauralanideangelis.com

Pacific Voices 2023 Grantee
Pacific Voices

DEI Training to Support Expanding Our Membership and Audiences. Pacificvoices.org

Sal lua grantee
Salvador Lua

To purchase a capable laptop that will help me start a photography buisness in South County. Instagram.com/xicano_wizard

ACSCC Loubayi Arnaud
Loubayi Arnaud

Laptop computer for grant writing and artistic administration/communication. Facebook.com/Gatabantu

Jaime sanchez e1511383709636
Jaime Sanchez

Adjustable height safety ladder with cage/platform to facilitate painting murals safely at heights up to 20 feet.

20190405 1114434 Monica Galvan
Monica Galvan

Welding equipment to create public art sculptures. Artedelcorazon.com

Jessica Carrasco Grantee
Jessica Carrasco

Printing Equipment to enrich and diversify creativity. Carrascoconcepts.wordpress.com

Chris Mosley Grantee
Christopher Mosley

Research and development of new techniques and ideas. Mozeart.com

Joohee Kim Miller Grantee
Joohee Kim Miller

I am applying for Open Studios fees, First Friday fees, and painting supplies. Also, Website costs. Jooheekm.com

Angelina Haro

Heat transfer printer equipment to expand my creative business.

Terre Lee Grantee
Terre Lee

Music technology equipment for violin performance. Instagram.com/terreleeviolin

Dani Urbieta Islas Grantee
Daniela Urbieta-Islas

Camera equipment to develop skills for future projects.

Lucia znamirowski 2024 grantee
Lucia Znamirowski

Hire a Professional Photographer to Shoot a Backlog of my Artists Books from 2020-2023 and launch online store. Luciastudio.com

Support Grant January 2024 Awards

General operating support for nonprofit arts organizations and fiscally-sponsored arts groups

Royal Eagle Bear Productions

Fiscal Sponsee

Senderos Guelaguetza 2023 by Shmuel Thaler SC Sentinel Grantee
Senderos

scsenderos.org

Cabrillo Fest by r r jones grantee
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

cabrillomusic.org

Cabrillo Stage hunchback Grantee
Cabrillo Stage

cabrillostage.com

Santa Cruz Opera Project Boheme trash Grantee
Santa Cruz Opera Project

santacruzoperaproject.org

Arte del corazon grantee
Arte Del Corazón

artedelcorazon.com

Motion Pacific2 cbirns 1
Motion Pacific

motionpacific.com

Tandy Beal and Company Nutz Re Mixed Grantee
Tandy Beal

tandybeal.com

SC Art League See 1 copy
Santa Cruz Art League

scal.org

Tannery cover 1024x765
Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center

tanneryworlddance.com

SC Actors Theater 8 TENS 2024 On The Road To Tikrit 34
Actors' Theater of Santa Cruz

santacruzactorstheatre.org

Indexical Grantee
Indexical

indexical.org

Artemis at Kuumbwa by r r jones Grantee
Kuumbwa Jazz Society

kuumbwajazz.org

Santa Cruz MAH grantee
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH)

santacruzmah.org

Westperformingarts grantee
West Performing Arts

westperformingarts.com

Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild Grand Opening Grantee
Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild

svctheaterguild.org

Santa Cruz Shakespeare 2023 Grantee
Santa Cruz Shakespeare

santacruzshakespeare.org

Puppetry Institute of Santa Cruz Grantee
The Puppetry Institute INC

thepuppetryinstitute.org

Watsonville Taiko Derby Girls Derek Opdyke photographer
Watsonville Taiko Group

watsonvilletaiko.org

SC Juneteenth grantee
Santa Cruz Juneteenth c/o Ana Elizabeth

santacruzjuneteeth.com

Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony Grantee
Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony

sccys.org

Create Grant Spring 2023 Awards

Funding for artists and organizations for an arts and/or cultural project taking place in Santa Cruz County

By Shmuel Thaler
Monterey Bay Horsemanship & Therapeutic Center

Gallery Exhibits and Art Market Access for Ethnically Diverse Artist's with Disabilities ($800).

Vivien Bassouamina

Kikulu Kia Nza 12th Annual African Dance and Drum Conference in Santa Cruz. ($3,000) dancecongo.com

Community Music School Group shot Mar23 copy
Community Music School of Santa Cruz

Free after-school music classes in Live Oak. ($2,475) communitymusicschool.org

Museo Eduardo Carrillo

Mestizáje / Multiracial indigenous online exhibit. ($3,000) museoeduardocarrillo.org

ACSCC Loubayi Arnaud
Loubayi Arnaud

Ha Mbongui African dance and drum conference in Santa Cruz at the Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center. ($2,400) gatabantudance.com

Jingtian Zong

Cracks: Investigating infrastructure public art in the City of Santa Cruz. ($2,700) jingtianz.com

Sc barrios unidos grantee
Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos

Formerly incarcerated artist works with youth-at-risk to paint Mayan Calendar murals on Soquel Avenue window panels surrounding Barrios Unidos, indicating a safe space and a path to peace. ($2,400) barriosunidos.net

Elisangela D. Sousa

Building community through Afro-Brazilian music and dance. ($2,475)

Melissa Marzan
Melissa Marzan

Filipino Cultural Mural in Watsonville. ($900) thelettermermaid.com

Ome garcia pintando verduras esperanza farms 2 1
Esperanza Community Farms

A writing, poetry, and painting workshop for Watsonville families to make multimedia cards of their favorite food/vegetable with creative stamping using paint, yarn, and the natural items on the farm. ($2,700) esperanzacommunityfarms.org

Ruby Vasquez Estrellas de Esperanza
Estrellas de Esperanza

La Rama- A Mexican Winter Tradition from Veracruz. ($2,475) facebook.com/EstrellasDeEsperanza

Develop Grant Spring 2023 Awards

Professional development funding for artists and arts organizations

Gabriela Preciado

Music recording tools & equipment to record debut EP. ($800)

Stephanie Michelet grantee
Stephanie Michelet

Weaving materials to teach workshops. ($590) seabrightcrafts.com

Hannah Andrews

Photography equipment to pursue my wildlife photography. ($1,200) instagram.com/hannah_andrews_art

Lynne todaro grantee
Lynne Todaro

"Arm Chair" outdoor sculpture project. ($1,200) lynnetodaro.com

Olivia Ronan

Macbook Pro 13-inch laptop for editing video projects and advancing performance work. ($1,200) orolives.wixsite.com/oliviaronan

Sarah bianco grantee
Sarah Bianco

Portable solar generator for outdoor mural & art production. ($1,500) instagram.com/paintingbybianco

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Rebeca Escobedo

Sewing classes and equipment to extend my knowledge and build my brand. ($1,500) instagram.com/soulbextion

Carrin Olsen
Carrin Olsen

Fine jewelry development inclusive of many disciplines into one pendant. ($800) carrinwear.com

Biagio glass
Biagio Scarpello

Glassblowing furnace to support local art glass business. ($1,200) biagio-scarpello.com

Vin Waring 1
Vincent Waring

To purchase a laptop computer to create art, edit imagery, manage opportunities, document work, correspond with galleries, and further professionalize my art career. ($1,200) vinwaring.com

Michael Alman

To attend the San Francisco Writer's Conference 2024 and pitch my middle-grade novel. ($584) ariotothebook.com

KELLY MURRAY Grantee Spring FY23 cycle 3
Kelly Murray

A quality quilting sewing machine to replace an outdated old one. ($800) kellyforniaaaa.com

Beth Shields
Beth Shields

To create a large-scale wall painting on raw canvas, and subsequently stretch it on 5ft square stretcher bars so it can be moved to other venues (including Gallery 125 at the Tannery). ($725) bethshields.com

Jennifer Gonzalez Huerta

Tecnología para ampliar la calidad de mi trabajo y tener más oportunidades de venta. (Technology to expand the quality of my work and have more sales opportunities.) ($800)

Karina North Grantee Spring FY23 cycle 3
Karina North

Participar en Open Studios (Participate in Open Studios) ($600)

2021-2024 Elevate Grantees

Funding to “elevate” a cohort of arts organizations to the next level of success over a three-year period.

Fall 2022 SPECTRA Grantees

Matching grants to bring arts education opportunities into schools and organizations across Santa Cruz County to enhance their arts education programs

Del Mar Elementary ($975) - Boxtales, theater performance

Green Acres Elementary ($1,000) - Michael Katz, storytelling performance

Live Oak Elementary ($1,500) - Claudia Stevens, ceramics workshop

Pacific Elementary ($1,500) - Terri Steinmann, theater residency

MacQuiddy Elementary ($2,000) - Elijah Pfonenhauer, after-school mural residency

Mar Vista Elementary ($1,000) -  Martina Goulart, mural workshop

Lakeview Middle ($2,000) - Janet Johns, dance residency

Watsonville Charter School of the Arts ($2,000) - Martina Goulart, visual arts residency

Watsonville High School ($2,000) - Guillermo Aranda, mural residency

Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary ($1,000) - Ibou N'Gom, African drumming