SVCREATES

06/18/2026

Join us for the June edition of the Gilroy Arts Roundtable at Gilroy City Hall on Wednesday, June 24!

The Gilroy Arts Roundtable (GAR), Gilroy’s monthly creative meetup, is a collective of artists, arts leaders and advocates amplifying, building and connecting arts and culture in Gilroy, South County and beyond. All of all ages are welcome — no art skills required 😉

Wednesday, June 24
6:30-8:00pm
The Neon Exchange
7365 Monterey Rd, Gilroy, CA 95020

GAR meets monthly on the last Wednesday of the month. Learn more and attend: https://bit.ly/47QDEa0

06/18/2026

The Rotary Club of San Jose is seeking accomplished, but relatively unknown, artists whose art discipline benefits the residents of Santa Clara County to apply for the Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Awards. Created in honor of our community’s iconic columnist and patron of the arts, Leigh Weimers, these cash awards support and encourage emerging artists. In addition to unrestricted funds, up to four winners will be invited to show their work at a lunch meeting of one of the world’s 10 largest Rotary Clubs.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4elxzro

06/15/2026

SVCREATES is serving as fiscal sponsor for Handwriting the Constitution, a series of community-based, participatory art events across the Town of Los Gatos - Government. Originally conceived by artist Morgan O’Hara in 2017 and managed by community volunteers and endorsed by the Town of Los Gatos, the series consists of sessions offered at different public spaces in Los Gatos for participants to transcribe the United States Constitution by hand. The project will culminate in a large-scale collective artwork—the entire U.S. Constitution transcribed by diverse hands—and be installed for the public in Los Gatos.

Learn more and participate: https://bit.ly/4uBS4Gu

06/11/2026

SVCREATES, in partnership with Santa Clara County Library District - SCCLD, and with support from Poetry Center San José, invites local poets to apply for the position of Santa Clara County Poet Laureate for 2027–28. The Poet Laureate is an honorary post that serves as an advocate for poetry, literature, and the arts, participating in public readings and civic events. The Poet Laureate will be formally appointed by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, acting on a recommendation determined through an artistic and community panel selection process coordinated by SVCREATES.

The next Poet Laureate will serve from January 2027–December 2028 and receive a stipend of $6,000 per year. The application will open on Monday, July 6, and close on Friday, August 14 at 5:00pm.

Interested candidates can drop into any of the following application workshops:

🔴 Tuesday, July 7 from 6:30-7:30pm: In-person workshop at Milpitas Library (no registration required)

🔴 Friday, July 10 from 5:30-6:30pm: Online information session (register at https://bit.ly/4uo1epV)

🔴 Monday, July 13 from 6:30-7:30pm: In-person workshop at Gilroy Library (no registration required)

Learn more and review the guidelines and application instructions: https://bit.ly/43mUHRu

06/08/2026

Applications are now open for the Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grant!

In partnership with the City of Gilroy Government, SVCREATES invites artists, groups, and organizations who serve Gilroy to apply to the Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grant program for projects and/or programs to be delivered in Gilroy between September 2026 and August 2027. These grants elevate artists and the arts community in Gilroy by demonstrating the role arts play in equitable community empowerment, activation, and revitalization. Applications close on Friday, July 10.

Sign up for the Applicant Information Session on Monday, June 22 at 6:00pm here: https://bit.ly/4unsc21

Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/3pOclgh

06/05/2026

Presented by the Center for Cultural Innovation, the Quick Grant program provides up to $600 in professional development funds to staff members of nonprofit arts organizations based in San Francisco or San José, as well as to California-based artists, creatives, cultural practitioners, and cultural producers. This program supports artists and arts workers by providing funding to enroll in workshops, attend conferences, and work with consultants, coaches, and mentors to build their administrative capacity, hone business skills, and strengthen the financial resilience of an organization, artistic practice, or area of cultural production. Accepted on a monthly basis, the next deadline to apply is Monday, June 15.

Learn more and apply today: https://bit.ly/3z4R82S

06/04/2026

The City of Sunnyvale, California (Government)’s Hands on the Arts Festival is an all-day children’s art festival on October 17. Applications are now open for artists to lead art workshops that align with the City’s goals to provide a family-friendly, child-focused event that provides an inclusive and culturally respectful way to explore creativity. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 17 at 5:00pm.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4advGM8

06/02/2026

The arts can play a unique role in engaging visitors and activating our city during our SJ2026 year of highly visible sporting events.

On Thursday, June 4 from 3:30pm-6:00pm arts organizations and artists are invited to join our hospitality sector and other small businesses for the Bi-Annual Summit for Hospitality at San Jose McEnery Convention Center Grand Ballroom to learn how to leverage sales, marketing, and PR opportunities around the world's most exciting soccer tournament. Connect with partners from the City of San Jose, San Jose Sports Authority, SJ26, Team San Jose, and more.

Register:

Join Us to Talk Everything San Jose '26!

06/01/2026

The California Arts Council’s (CAC) Individual Artists Fellowship (IAF) program uplifts and celebrates California artists across all disciplines and traditions. The CAC has selected Kala Art Institute to implement the IAF program for the Bay Area region, including Santa Clara County.

Learn more and apply by Friday, June 5 at 11:59pm: https://bit.ly/4tl5sz9

05/30/2026

This month, we are thrilled to feature a blog from Director of Programs Sinjin Jones highlighting this year’s Town Hall and the incredible power of our collective creative community.

"We are stronger together. It’s a statement that is easy to say, more challenging to believe, and incredibly difficult to live up to. But it is true. Last month, SVCREATES hosted our annual Town Hall for artists and arts leaders across Santa Clara County and beyond. Over 100 passionate participants gathered for a day of learning, connecting, and celebrating."

Read and share Sinjin's full piece: https://bit.ly/49nKV54