Arts & Culture

We spoke with Melissa West, printmaker and visual artist, about Watsonville’s arts ecosystem, what inspires her to create, and where you can see her work in the coming weeks. What do you love about Watsonville’s arts community and being an artist living and working here? A...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Students in Santa Cruz County are once again invited to submit entries into a regional writing contest headed by the Palo Alto Humane Society (PAHS). The Ambassadors of Compassion Story Writing Contest is open to seventh and eighth graders in Santa Cruz, Santa...

APTOS—An exhibit at Cabrillo College’s art gallery in Aptos was only open to the public for five days in March before it had to close down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, Cabrillo Gallery staff has kept connected to art lovers by posting about...

“Sculpture IS: In the Garden 2023,” an outdoor exhibit of more than 90 sculptures, has just opened at Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens in Watsonville. In its 17th year, the annual exhibit, produced by Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA), features artists from around the Monterey...

The community is invited to an opening reception for “Emergence” on June 4 from 2-4pm at Pajaro Valley Art’s (PVA) Sudden Street Gallery. This multimedia exhibit celebrates artists emerging onto the art scene, exploring new media, presenting new bodies of work, and/or completing higher...

For the fourth annual Wine, Beer and Art Walk, locals and visitors can stroll downtown Watsonville to sip local wines and craft beers, sample food, and experience artwork created by local artists and artisans.  On Aug. 19 from 1-5pm, the City of Watsonville and Pajaro...

Each year during the first three weekends in October, the public is invited to a free countywide self-guided art tour. Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s 37th annual Open Studios Art Tour features 322 artists who will open their studios across Santa Cruz County.  The tour...

Do you have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name...

WATSONVILLE—Throughout the pandemic, Watsonville-based organization Arte del Corazón has been staging open-air art shows to showcase local artists.  The idea for the shows came from Monica Galvan, who has teamed up with other artists and performers to plan events at Romo Park on Main Street,...

For 20 years the Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) has been celebrating bicycles through art, film and music. Originating in New York, it has popped up in 100 cities across the globe, from Paris and Tokyo to Istanbul and Mexico City. And now the festival is...