Open Studios 2024

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

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Teaching Artists

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

Why Be a Teaching Artist?

Accepting applications through March 15, 2024

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

Open Studios 2024 Art Tour

Meet the artists, experience their creative process, witness live demonstrations, and buy direct from the artists. Plan your free self-guided tour - visit one studio or spend all day exploring. Open Studios takes place the first three weekends of October.

Arts Organizations: Apply for Up to $7,000 in Support Grants

Every year, we distribute $200,000+ directly to our community’s artists and arts organizations. Our Support Grant applications for nonprofit (and fiscally sponsored) arts organizations are open September 18 - October 23, 2024.

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