Arts Education for Everyone: Join our Santa Cruz Gives fundraising campaign! 

With your help, we can train passionate local artists, expand arts programs, and ensure every student has access to the transformative power of the arts.

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Teaching Artists

Apply To Become a Teaching Artist
Photo: Sarah Brothers Bot
Teaching Artists Hero

Why Be a Teaching Artist?

Inspire a kid. Make someone’s day a little more colorful. Build relationships. Make a difference in classrooms across Santa Cruz County. Join dozens of other local artists and bring your artistic talents to teachers, classrooms, and after-school programs.

The role of Arts Council Santa Cruz County is to connect teaching artists with dozens of schools and organizations across the county every year. We bring teachers and school leaders together to bring new and returning artists into their classrooms.

We pair classroom teachers with SPECTRA teaching artists to bring dance, music, theatre, and visual arts to classrooms. Together, they work to integrate the arts into subjects such as ELD, math, science, and history.

The Mariposa Arts after-school programs bring visual art, music, dance and theatre to 2,000+ students in schools that have little or no funding for the arts in classrooms during school hours.

An intergenerational model, Mariposa Arts high school students and teaching artists work together to co-teach lessons to elementary and middle school students. Mentored by professional artists, the high school students become leaders and role models. For many students, their resume starts with their Mariposa Arts job.

The program is the basis for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s after-school curriculum in science, physical education, and more.

Become a Teaching Artist

Teaching artists are connected to the extensive Arts Council Santa Cruz County network.

Teaching Artist Directory

Check out the Teaching Artist Directory to discover current artists turning classrooms into creative spaces.

Happening Now

Rincón de Arte - Holiday Art Market at the Watsonville Center for the Arts

December 13, 2024 - 7:00 PMJoin us for Rincón de Arte – a pop-up Holiday Art Market at the Watsonville Center for the Arts! Shop one-of-a-kind treasures: Art, jewelry, crafts, and more—all handmade by talented local artists.

Yesenia Molina on Cultivating Creativity, Equity, and Justice in the Arts

Listen to Yesenia Molina, Watsonville Arts Program Manager, on On The Cutting Edge (KSQD.ORG) as she shares her vision for fostering creativity, supporting artists, and promoting justice and equity in the arts across Watsonville and beyond.

Tannery Arts Center Winter Art Market

December 14, 2024 - 12:00 AMDiscover, Experience, And Support Local Art During The 12th Annual Winter Art Market At The Tannery Arts Center On Saturday, December 14 In The City Of Santa Cruz.

Call for Teaching Artists

Arts Council Santa Cruz County is seeking teaching artists in all disciplines, including substitute positions for the Arts Education programs, SPECTRA and Mariposa Arts.

Empower the Arts in California – Join Today!

Become a member of CA for the Arts and help champion the importance of arts and culture in our communities. Your support drives advocacy, fosters collaboration, and ensures accessible programs for a vibrant cultural future.

I find Mariposa Arts helpful because it gives me confidence in myself and it gives me a chance to speak my opinions and be expressive in my art.

Olivia Mariposa Arts
OliviaMariposa Arts Student, Age 11