Grants Program

The Arts in California Parks grants program revitalizes local parks with diverse experiences that foster creativity, community connection and transform them into vibrant hubs of art, culture and nature.

In 2025, more than $2.6 million was invested to support 30 grant recipients across California. These innovative programs will bring art and cultural activities to local parks, transforming them into dynamic spaces that celebrate California’s cultural heritage and provide memorable experiences for visitors and residents alike.

Explore Projects
An artist carefully painting or outlining a mural on a wall. The artist has long, dark hair braided down their back and is wearing a casual blue shirt and jeans. They are focused on the task, holding a paintbrush or tool in one hand while using the other hand to stabilize a paper template taped to the wall. The wall appears to be in the process of being painted, with various shades of brown, beige, and orange visible on the mural. Scaffolding is present in the background, suggesting that the mural is being painted outdoors.

Artist Clay River collaborates with Ink Dwell Studio on a mural installation focused on the restoration of Mariposa Creek, the future site of the residency program. Photo by Cara Goger, Mariposa Arts Council.

A diverse group of folks pose excitedly in the bright sunshine. They're all in front of some trees and painted murals, and are standing on a temporary dance floor. The dark-skinned man in the front is balancing on one arm while pointing and grinning at the camera.

Hip Hop for Change Camp at Candlestick Point SRA © 2021 Hip Hop for Change.

Meet our 2025-26 Grantees

From large-scale performances to culturally focused installations, this year’s grantees provide opportunities for residents and visitors alike to engage with the arts while deepening their connection to nature and local history.

See Former Grantees

2025-26 Implementation Grantees

Sustainers of Life, Contemporary Native Art Exhibition & Public Programming

Opening October 9, 2025, Sustainers of Life is a multi-week contemporary art exhibition at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, featuring new work by 5-8 Indigenous women artists. The exhibition will explore historic and ongoing issues impacting Native communities, particularly Native women, and will be accompanied by public programming that promotes healing, truth and cultural connection. Timed with the Many Winters Gathering of Elders — a four-day Indigenous-led cultural event attracting 1,500 visitors — the exhibition will engage 1,500 elementary students through the center’s Arts Exploration Field Trip program. Additional programming will include artist talks, film screenings, a basket-weaving workshop and family art activities. Located in Angels Gate Park, the center serves as a vital hub for community-based arts in South Los Angeles, fostering empathy, understanding and connection through art that honors Indigenous voices and the cultural significance of California’s parklands.

For more information, visit www.angelsgateart.org

Roots & Resilience: AANHPI Youth Mental Wellness Through Culture, Art, and Nature

Roots & Resilience: AANHPI Youth Mental Wellness Through Culture, Art, and Nature, is a 2026 initiative addressing mental health challenges among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth. The project will create six seasonal Roots & Resilience Community Days, offering wellness workshops led by culturally competent practitioners. These workshops will integrate traditional AANHPI healing arts, such as forest bathing, Tai Chi, ho‘oponopono, Tibetan sound therapy and Pacific Islander land and ocean rituals, alongside music, movement and nature-based creative expression. Activities will build cultural identity, reduce stigma and foster belonging. Grounded in research showing that culturally responsive, community-led programs strengthen resilience, this initiative reimagines parks as healing spaces where art and nature converge, youth voices are centered and visitors experience cross-cultural education in mental and behavioral wellness.

For more information, visit www.apapa.org

Filipino Arts in Parks in SoCal

This project will celebrate Filipino cultural heritage through a series of free, arts-based events in public parks across Southern California from December 2025 to September 2026. Focused on Filipino families, youth, artists and broader local communities, the program features hands-on workshops, performances and cultural celebrations designed to foster pride, education and connection. Events include the Parol Festival in Eagle Rock, a modern cultural showcase in Unidad Park, Philippine Independence Day in Carson, American Filipino Friendship Day in Cerritos and the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture in San Pedro. Led by Filipino teaching artists, activities will include parol-making, traditional dance, music, storytelling and collaborative art. The project aligns events with significant cultural dates to maximize engagement and will use community partnerships and social media to amplify impact. By bringing Filipino arts into public spaces, the program builds visibility, fosters connection and promotes shared celebration of heritage.

For more information, visit www.filamartsla.org

Art, Nature and Flourishing in the California Foothills

Balanced Rock Foundation’s Art, Nature & Wellness program is an intergenerational, place-based initiative in the Sierra foothills blending creative practice, nature connection and wellness tools. Designed with young adults in mind, the project features two components: a three-week immersive cohort for young adults and four public art and culture workshops open to all. The cohort, hosted in March, includes modules on wellness without walls, creative expression for growth and environmental stewardship, with optional yoga teacher training and wilderness first aid certification. Public workshops, led by regional artists, highlight Indigenous and place-based practices like basket weaving, nature journaling and visual storytelling, with cohort participants assisting to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing. A new outreach and enrollment specialist will lead relationship-based recruitment, prioritizing historically underserved youth. The program aims to nurture personal growth, emotional well-being and career pathways while strengthening community connections among artists, educators and youth advocates.

For more information, visit https://www.balancedrock.org/

Resilient Cuyama Drama in the Park

Resilient Cuyama Drama in the Park is a free, year-long arts program in New Cuyama that will produce two original community theater performances. Led by Blue Sky Center in partnership with Cuyama Valley Recreation and Park District and PlaceBase Productions artists, the program will engage residents across generations through two 12-session theater cycles in fall 2025 and spring 2026. Productions will be site-specific, developed with local artists and community members and performed at park locations including Montgomery Hall and outdoor spaces throughout town. Building on previous collaborations like Superbloom! and the Cuyama Drama Club, the program continues efforts to enhance local parks through art. Community workshops in areas like set-building, costume design and songwriting may also be offered. Supported by schools and local partners, this initiative will celebrate Cuyama Valley’s unique identity, promote creative expression and strengthen community through inclusive storytelling and place-based performance.

For more information, visit http://blueskycenter.org

Hope Rising: Esperanza Park Cultural Celebration

Cathedral City will launch a community-led public art initiative to activate Esperanza Park, its newest and largest park, located in the historically underserved Dream Homes neighborhood. This predominantly Hispanic, working-class community has long faced challenges related to disinvestment and lack of resources. Named “Esperanza”, meaning hope, the park represents a renewed commitment to equity, resilience and cultural pride. The project, called Hope Rising, will develop a series of murals along a 3,000-foot park wall, created through four city-hosted events featuring food, music, performances and resident participation. Professional artists will guide the collaborative mural-making process, celebrating the heritage of the neighborhood’s Hispanic and tribal communities. The Desert Recreation District will support with programs, including art classes, readings and family-friendly activities. By transforming public space through cultural expression and community engagement, this project fosters belonging, improves park safety and honors the generational history and diverse identity of Cathedral City.

For more information, visit https://www.cathedralcity.gov/

 

General Vang Pao Memorial Statue and Mural

General Vang Pao Park in Merced will be transformed into a culturally themed community space honoring the Hmong people and General Vang Pao. Located on nearly nine acres near Fahrens Creek, the park will feature a memorial plaza with a statue and mural celebrating General Vang Pao’s legacy and the deep roots of the Hmong community in the region. The City of Merced has worked closely with Hmong residents to ensure culturally appropriate design elements, native plantings and symbols. Planned amenities include an all-inclusive Aletha June playground, walking paths, shaded picnic areas, interactive art, native flora and public restrooms. The park will serve as much-needed recreational space in an underserved area that currently lacks parks, while also continuing to function as an overflow basin for flood control. This one-time project aims to celebrate cultural heritage, enhance community access to green space and provide inclusive outdoor amenities for all residents.

For more information, visit http://www.cityofmerced.gov

Rooted in Place

EcoArts of Lake County, through the Middletown Art Center, will lead Rooted in Place, a public art initiative activating four county-managed parks in Lake County. The project includes three murals near Clear Lake and an interactive sculpture at Middletown Trailside Park, each honoring local ecology, cultural heritage and tribal history. In partnership with tribal departments, schools and youth organizations, the project will engage local youth in design, mentorship and artmaking. Public art days will invite community members to contribute through painting, mosaicking and workshops led by culture bearers. The sculpture at Trailside Park will commemorate recovery from the 2015 Valley Fire and support education on fire resilience and Indigenous land practices. Designed to foster environmental awareness and cultural connection, the project strengthens community bonds while celebrating place-based identity and artistic collaboration in this under-resourced rural region.

For more information, visit http://middletownartcenter.org

Arts and Cultural Programming at FRLT’s Sierra Valley Preserve and Nature Center

The Feather River Land Trust will launch robust public programming, developed with community partners, grounded in three program pillars: Indigenous Peoples, Children and Family and Nature-Based Art. In collaboration with Maidu and Washoe tribal members, FRLT will co-create events highlighting traditional foodways, plant medicine, arts, dance and history, including seasonal foraging, acorn processing and cultural construction projects like earthen ovens and traditional dwellings. Some events will be private tribal gatherings followed by public programs. Family offerings include twice-monthly art and nature workshops for youth, a Kids Nature Journaling Club and a summer family campout. Nature-based art workshops will feature willow crafting, plant-based dyeing, plein air painting, botany walks, music, poetry and art shows in partnership with local artists and Plumas Arts. Through these activities, FRLT aims to foster cultural exchange, deepen ecological understanding and strengthen community connection to the preserve.

For more information, visit http://www.frlt.org

Neighborhood Tour 2025: Circus, Puppetry & Parades in Parks

Fern Street Circus will present its Neighborhood Tour with 16 free live circus performances and parades in parks across underserved neighborhoods in San Diego. Running from October 2025 through June 2026, the tour brings high-quality, family-friendly entertainment directly to local communities, using circus arts to promote joy, cultural connection and community engagement.

For more information, visit https://www.fernstreetcircus.com

Mariposa Creek Parkway Artist-in-Residency

The Mariposa Creek Parkway Artist-in-Residency program is a one-year pilot led by the Mariposa County Arts Council in partnership with the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, Sierra Foothill Conservancy and Mariposa County Planning Department. Artists will be based in a public park that serves as both a wildfire mitigation zone and cultural corridor. Building on a robust planning phase, the program offers stipends, housing and studio space to three residency types: Visiting Artists, Local Artists and a year-round Cultural Residency designed and governed by the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation. Residents will create public engagement experiences while supporting ecological restoration, cultural revitalization, and community well-being. The program prioritizes cultural sovereignty, cross-sector collaboration and inclusive access, aiming to model how parks can serve as living systems of care, culture and creativity. Outcomes include deepened public connection to the land, elevated tribal leadership and scalable tools for integrating arts into park planning.

For more information, visit http://www.mariposaartscouncil.org

We Help Each Other: Representing Tradition in a New Community Space

This project brings culturally relevant, Native-led art to McKinleyville’s new park, ensuring visible and meaningful Indigenous representation. Building on community trust created in previous work, the finalized design concepts will be reviewed with local residents — especially Native youth — to reflect their voices and experiences. Lead artist Melitta Jackson will determine which designs to implement herself and which to co-create with other McKinleyville-area Indigenous artists. Following community input, the team will secure formal approval from the McKinleyville Community Services District and host a park blessing ceremony with the Wiyot Tribe, youth and district board members. A detailed fabrication and installation timeline will align with the park’s construction schedule. The process will be documented and shared via partner social media, emphasizing belonging and cultural representation. The project will culminate in a public art unveiling event, celebrating this milestone for Native visibility in McKinleyville’s public spaces.

For more information, visit http://www.mckfrc.org

Ground UP

The Ground Up project will create and install two public art components at Henwood Park: an extension of the Memoria Terra public art project, culminating from a five-week 2026 Youth Art Fellowship in which fellows assist in fabrication and installation; and a crowdsourced tile mural, with painted tiles contributed by community members of all ages. The mural will be professionally finished and installed by a licensed contractor, then unveiled alongside the Memoria Terra extension at a public celebration. Developed through extensive youth and community engagement, the project reflects City Heights’ cultural diversity and builds on the success of Memoria Terra, enabling more youth to see their poetry embedded in the environment. Ongoing outreach, advocacy and coordination with the City and SD Arts & Culture Commission will ensure smooth implementation, while fostering park revitalization, civic pride and long-term community investment in Henwood Park’s cultural and physical transformation.

For more information, visit http://midcitycan.org

Outside Arts: Light and Dark

Located on Wiyot land, Outside Arts: Light is a year-long series of seasonal arts engagements designed to deepen community connections in Arcata’s parks. Led by Playhouse Arts, the program offers two weeks of creative workshops, performances and gatherings each season, exploring sound, light, movement, visual arts and language. Activities include weaving, storytelling, movement choirs, shadow puppetry, guided night walks, skywatching, Día de Muertos celebrations, environmental soundscape recording and family-friendly art events. Inspired by the city’s network of parks and trails, the project emphasizes intimate, neighborhood-based experiences that foster cross-community collaboration and collective memory, culminating in a spring spectacle at Carlson Park in Guidin’i. The initiative partners with local artists, community groups and the City of Arcata, aligning with the NEA Big Read to celebrate creativity, cultural traditions and shared public spaces year-round.

For more information, visit http://www.playhousearts.org

Queer Surf ART Series

The Queer Surf Art Series will host eight events across California’s Central Coast, Mendocino and San Mateo County, combining surfing and queer-centered performance art workshops. Each event includes three hours of ocean recreation for LGBTQI+ participants, followed by an inclusive art workshop open to all, including non-surfers. The program aims to help queer individuals build a sense of comfort and connection with coastal nature while fostering broader community engagement with queer art. By creating welcoming spaces for creative expression and outdoor activities, the series fosters lasting community bonds and a deeper appreciation for both nature and queer culture across the state.

For more information, visit http://www.queersurf.org

Durham Ferry Art & Heritage Festival

The Durham Art & Heritage Festival will be a three-part event series at the Durham Ferry Outdoor Education Center in spring 2026, combining environmental restoration with community arts and cultural celebration. Centered around the creation of a “Living Sculpture” by the Watershed Sculpture team, the festival will feature artist-led workshops, interactive exhibits and live performances that highlight diverse cultural traditions including Mexican, Filipino, Latino, Asian and First Peoples. The first two events will involve the community in building the sculpture, blending art and conservation through hands-on participation. The last event will serve as a culminating celebration, offering performances, cultural activities and educational workshops that connect ecological awareness with cultural heritage. Designed to engage families, youth and the broader public, the festival promotes environmental literacy, sustainability and community identity through immersive, outdoor arts experiences that evolve with the natural landscape.

For more information, visit https://www.sjcoe.org/

Cultural Music Series in the Parks

The Cultural Music Series, led by the Tahoe Truckee School of Music in partnership with the Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District, is an eight-month program celebrating Hispanic/Latino and Native American musical traditions. Taking place from February to September 2026, the series will feature eight free public concerts, alternating between the two cultures, and one youth-focused event. Performances will include traditional and contemporary music, dance and storytelling in public venues, like the Community Arts Center Amphitheater and Truckee River Regional Park. Designed to foster inclusivity, representation and cultural appreciation, the series supports the Latino and Washoe tribal communities whose heritage is rooted in the region. This planning phase will finalize performer selections and event logistics, with strong local support and established partnerships in place. By centering cultural expression in public spaces, the project aims to strengthen community ties and provide residents and visitors alike with meaningful, accessible arts experiences.

For more information, visit https://www.tahoemusic.net/

Shakespeare in the Park, Sacramento and Placer Counties

In 2026, the Take Note Troupe will produce Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew through the lens of South Asian culture and dance with up to three performances at Rocklin Quarry Park, three performances in Folsom at the Folsom Amphitheater and two performances at Fair Oaks’ Fair Oaks Park Bandshell from May to June. Take Note Troupe is the only performing arts company in the Sacramento and Placer regions that performs Shakespeare in its entirety on an annual basis, at no cost to the public. Moreover, they bring Shakespeare to the people in their local parks.

For more information, visit http://takenotetroupe.org

Redlands Eco Arts Community Home (REACH)

REACH is a community-centered arts and environmental education hub based at Sylvan Park in Redlands, with a satellite program at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. The program will host eight artists and eight writers for month-long, environmentally focused residencies, during which each will create work off-site and lead public art sessions. Offerings include professional development for artists, public workshops on soil health, composting and water conservation and monthly art engagements ranging from theater to hands-on creative activities. A community garden — featuring native, edible and medicinal plants — will support artmaking, ecology and collective gardening. The project culminates in a public exhibition with the Redlands Conservancy, a print publication and a documentary video. Long-term goals include site renovations for ADA-accessible studios, artist housing and a creative marketplace. REACH addresses critical community needs by blending art, ecology and cultural history, fostering a sense of belonging, revitalizing public spaces and building a stronger local creative economy.

For more information, visit http://www.theartlands.org

Roots & Rhythms at Clinton Square Park: Cultivating Community through Arts and Nature

Trybe seeks to activate Clinton Square Park’s revitalized community center and greenspace through year-round, art- and nature-based programming for Oakland youth and families. Serving low-income, violence-impacted communities, the project includes four areas: a youth-led garden and a large cultural heritage mural; a two-week summer art camp focused on nature and sustainability; 16 weeks of free multicultural art classes in dance, martial arts, visual arts and media production, including “Shadow Movements”, a storytelling program for immigrant and refugee youth; and two public cultural showcases featuring performances, garden tours and local art exhibits. Led by partners like ARTogether, AYPAL and community artists, the project integrates cultural heritage, environmental connection and creative expression. Through hands-on workshops and collaborative events, it fosters healing, pride and community engagement in a neighborhood deeply affected by instability and disinvestment.

For more information, visit http://www.oaklandtrybe.org

Reclaiming Our Sisters Everywhere (R.O.S.E): South LA

The ROSE Memorial will be a circular, double-sided monument in Martin Luther King Jr. Park, South Los Angeles, honoring more than 200 missing and murdered women and girls. Designed with a tranquil seated female figure, ceiba tree branches symbolizing resilience and a rose motif, it will become part of the City’s permanent civic art collection. The project has engaged community members, built partnerships with LA Commons and KAOS Network and empowered ROSE Youth Ambassadors. Events included site blessings, memorial tours and participation in the Day of the Ancestors Festival. This next phase will include six engagement activities, including cultural ceremonies, storytelling and a Women’s History Month tribute, culminating in a September 2026 unveiling. Public artist Keith Greco has joined the team, donating his expertise in large-scale fabrication to significantly enhance the project’s capacity to create a lasting space for remembrance and healing.

For more information, visit https://rosesouthla.org/

2025-26 Planning & Development Grantees

North Highlands Mutual Aid Fair and Mural Project

This project will activate Freedom Park in North Highlands with a community-designed mural and a one-day mutual aid fair focused on creativity, resource-sharing and connection. Centered on inclusivity, the project will engage families, youth, artists and underserved residents through free art activities, skill-building workshops, music exploration and access to local services. A large-scale mural on the park’s basketball court will celebrate the neighborhood’s cultural diversity and be created collaboratively with local artists and residents. The mutual aid fair will feature hands-on stations, creative expression and a shared meal to foster community bonding. During the planning phase, the team will engage residents and partners to shape the event, ensuring it reflects the unique identity and needs of the North Highlands community. This project aligns with the goals of the Arts in California Parks grants program by celebrating heritage, strengthening community ties and using art to promote well-being and cultural pride.

For more information, visit https://broadroom.org

The Hidden Network

The Hidden Network is an immersive arts experience that transforms redwood forests in Marin, Eureka and Big Sur into live theaters, converging science, Indigenous wisdom and art. Inspired by the forest’s underground mycorrhizal network, the project explores themes of connection and reciprocity through three components: a self-guided audio tour with reflections from ecologists and Indigenous knowledge-keepers, site-specific live performances featuring dancers and musicians and interactive spaces for community reflection. Designed for people of all backgrounds and abilities, the project invites participants to rediscover their relationship with nature. Collaborations with local parks and organizations, including Bioneers’ Indigeneity Program, ensure cultural authenticity and meaningful engagement. Through storytelling, technology and performance, The Hidden Network fosters a deeper understanding of the natural world and our place within it, offering a transformative experience that honors both ecological science and ancestral knowledge.

For more information, visit http://www.crescentmoontheaterproductions.com

Re-Create Salinas: Arts in the Parks

“Re-Create Salinas: Arts in the Parks” is a citywide initiative bringing free, hands-on arts programs to 10 public parks across Salinas over 20 weekends in 2026. Focused on underserved areas like East Salinas, the project will offer rotating art workshops, pop-up installations and environmental learning activities designed for families, youth and residents. Each park will host three art activities using clean, salvaged materials from the Monterey Regional Waste Management District, reinforcing sustainability. Activities include street art, mosaic-making, eco-puppetry and portrait drawing, with programming shaped by community input. Led by Hijos del Sol and youth mentors, the project promotes intergenerational creativity and access to the arts. Supported by the City of Salinas Parks & Recreation Department, the initiative aims to transform neighborhood parks into vibrant, inclusive hubs for cultural expression and environmental awareness, strengthening community connections and enhancing public spaces citywide across the city.

For more information, visit https://www.hijosdelsol.org/

Expanding the Cultural Hotspot in Imperial Valley’s North End

This project will transform parks in Calipatria into vibrant public art spaces that reflect the rich cultural and social narratives of the Imperial Valley. Through murals, sculptures and interactive installations, the initiative will address social issues, promote environmental justice and provide relief from extreme heat. Community workshops will guide the creative process, ensuring the art reflects local voices, while educational programs and guided tours will engage residents and visitors. Focused on historically marginalized communities, the project also provides professional opportunities for local artists. Located near the Salton Sea and proposed lithium sites, Calipatria is at the center of regional transformation, making this a timely effort to promote healing, connection to nature and equitable development. Building on the “Better to Light a Candle” initiative, this project uses public art as a tool for empowerment, cultural expression and lasting community impact.

For more information, visit http://ivequityjustice.org/

Meiners Oaks Park: Abandoned property turned vibrant park

Meiners Oaks Park is a grassroots effort to transform a long-abandoned commercial lot in Meiners Oaks, Ventura County, into a vibrant, nature-focused neighborhood park. With no existing park, Meiners Oaks Park is partnering with local officials and residents to create a space where families can gather, children can play and visitors can connect with art and nature. The park will feature original sculptures, a mural painted by schoolchildren celebrating local ecology  and a quarter-mile, ADA-accessible path lined with native plants. Interactive play areas will encourage imagination and nature-based exploration for kids. Culturally significant elements, including a Chumash plant garden with site-specific art, will honor the region’s heritage. Every feature, from cyclist rest stops to pet amenities, will be designed to foster joy, healing and community connection. This project reflects the belief that public art and access to nature can transform neglected spaces into sources of pride and stewardship.

For more information, visit http://www.imaginemopark.org

Hallyeyaaw Lane Park: Native Arts & Heritage Space

Hallyeyaaw Lane Park: Native Arts & Heritage Space will transform the only tribal housing community park on the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians reservation into a vibrant center for Indigenous art, culture and storytelling. The project will plan and design a space featuring an interpretive trail with native plants used in traditional basketry, artist-designed signage, a performance amphitheater and a hands-on arts workspace. Guided by tribal cultural leaders and Indigenous artists, the project will foster cultural revitalization, environmental restoration and community connection. Oversight will be provided by the Mesa Grande Indian Housing Authority, with cultural programming led by MGBOMI. Planning activities include finalizing concept designs, engaging artists and cultural leaders, community input sessions and securing necessary permits. Once complete, the space will serve as a sustainable and evolving tribute to Indigenous heritage, offering ongoing opportunities for education, artistic engagement and cultural celebration within the broader California parks landscape.

For more information, visit https://www.mesagrandeband-nsn.gov/

Walk With Yáamay

This project will create guided “art walks” in local parks and outdoor spaces, blending nature exploration with live performances from Yáamay: An Anthology of Feminine Perspectives Across Indigenous California. Led by poets, singers and actors, these immersive walks will feature artistic “pause points” where participants experience poetry, songs and storytelling that connect with the surrounding landscape. The walks welcome all ages, encouraging deeper connection with Indigenous stories and celebrating the intersection of art, land and culture. Each walk aligns excerpts from Yáamay with natural themes such as rooting, dormancy, cultivation and blooming. The project also will include educational materials and partnerships with Indigenous artists to ensure authenticity and inclusivity. With support from the Arts in California Parks grants program, all artists will be compensated, and the program will be designed for repeat performances across multiple locations, honoring the land’s original stewards through meaningful artistic expression.

For more information, visit https://newvillagearts.org/

Public Art and Conservation Tributes (PACT)

This project will transform Samuel Ayers Park into a vibrant hub for art, community and environmental stewardship. Led by The Conservation Foundation, the initiative blends public art with ecological engagement through the Public Art and Conservation Tributes program. Through workshops, community meetings and artist-led programming, PACT fosters personal connection to nature while addressing nature-deficit disorder and promoting ecological awareness. A technical advisory committee of artists, educators and civic leaders will guide the development of inclusive, place-based experiences rooted in local culture and conservation. Adjacent to Dog Island Park, a critical habitat undergoing fish restoration, the site offers unique opportunities for creative engagement with local ecology. By merging arts and conservation, this planning and development project rekindles appreciation for Samuel Ayers Park and empowers the public to take part in its ongoing care—bridging past and present, people and place, through immersive, community-driven programming.

For more information, visit https://www.tehamaconservationfund.org/

Wusatoumuduk: We Make It Burn

Wusatoumuduk: We Make It Burn is a new multimedia play created by an inter-tribal team in Humboldt County, based on the vision of Wiyot Tribe member Marnie Atkins. It explores the role of cultural fire in California Native land stewardship and the challenges of restoring “good fire” within settler-colonial systems. The story follows a young Wiyot woman navigating fire ecology through both academic and cultural lenses, supported by her family and traditional stories brought to life through shadow play. Co-directed by Michelle Hernandez and Zuzka Sabata, and produced by North Coast Repertory Theatre in partnership with the Wiyot Tribe, the play has completed staged readings and is now preparing for an outdoor tour in 2026 to at least 10 regional locations. Featuring an all-Indigenous team, free shows and post-performance discussions on cultural fire, the project unites environmental education, storytelling and Indigenous community leadership.

For more information, visit https://www.wiyot.us

“Exploring themes of healing and heritage through media art, our transformative ‘Land and Lenses’ program engages youth as leaders and changemakers — connecting the community to one of our region’s most valued natural resources, Otay Valley Regional Park,” states Sarah E. Beckman, executive director, Outside the Lens. 

Two program participants use DSLR cameras to photograph toyon (green shrub with red berries) up close.

Land+Lenses Youth Apprentices explored Mission Trails Regional Park through a guided tour and presentation, deepening their connection to nature. In this photo, two participants photograph the native plant toyon. Photo by Outside the Lens

A group of people gathered around a large table engaged in a creative activity, weaving, with natural materials such as leaves, grasses, and reeds. The participants appear to be focused and engaged, with some standing and others sitting as they work on their individual projects. The room has warm lighting, with various colorful artworks displayed on the walls, adding to the vibrant and artistic atmosphere. There are tools and supplies scattered on the table, suggesting an organized workshop or community art session.

Participants weaving with locally sourced natural materials. Materials are seen spread across a large table at Blue Door Gallery for Pond Farm Pottery’s August Artist in Residence event on Friday, August 16, 2024 near Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. Photo by Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods.

Stay connected with us!

Follow us on social media or sign up for email updates to stay informed about Program announcements and deadlines. You can follow:

Join Our Email List