Arts & Culture

A new 200-foot mural has gone up across the front of Hotel Paradox on Ocean Street in Santa Cruz.  Artist Jeremiah Kille, who has completed scores of large-scale murals around town, Sacramento and elsewhere, finished the work in November. The mural spans the front of the...

Musicians, dancers and the public take part in a Mexican holiday tradition called La Rama Friday night in Watsonville Plaza. The first-ever such event in Watsonville was hosted by students in the dance class, Estrellas de Esperanza, taught by Ruby Vasquez. The purpose of...

The community is invited to see “Alice By Heart” at the Mello Center, which kicked off Nov. 24, and continues its run Dec. 2 at 7:30pm and Dec. 3 at 2pm.  This free, open-to-the-public performance is among the first productions of “Alice By Heart” outside...

Larger than life eyeball models stare from a desk drawer; a paper bird clings to a swing inside an antique cage; a set of pastel crayons are tucked neatly into a vest pocket; globes, candles, early day photos, antlers—the visual explosion goes on and...

Arts Council Santa Cruz County announced that Santa Cruz County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $68 million in economic activity in 2022, according to the newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), a national economic and social impact study conducted by Americans...

Students in the local dance class, Estrellas de Esperanza, taught by Ruby Vasquez, hosted an information session for the public Wednesday evening to learn about a Mexican holiday tradition called La Rama.  Maestro Claudio Naranjos Vega traveled from Vera Cruz, Mexico, to run the class...

The community is invited to celebrate Day of the Dead / Día de Muertos in Watsonville Plaza Oct. 27 from 4-9pm. It is a free event, produced by Watsonville Film Festival, filled with tradition and activities for the whole family. Watch the movie “Coco”...

The annual “Mi Casa es Tu Casa” exhibit, centered around Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a traditional holiday in Mexico, has opened at Pajaro Valley Arts in Watsonville. “Mi Casa es Tu Casa: Honoring Our Ancestors” features a range of participants, including...

Christian Youth Theatre (CYT) will bring its version of Roald Dahl's “Matilda, the Musical” to the Crocker Theater at Cabrillo College Oct. 27-29.  Organizers say the performance promises to be a “magical experience for theater enthusiasts of all ages.” “Matilda,” based on Dahl’s 1988 novel, tells...

Watsonville artist Josefina Rocha (right) works on a new piece of art Saturday inside the Porter Building during the Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s 37th annual Open Studios Art Tour. This year features 322 artists that open their studios across Santa Cruz County to...