Call for Art: The Ground Beneath Us / La Tierra Bajo Nosotros
Four regional arts councils — Arts Council for Monterey County, Arts Council Santa Cruz County, San Benito County Arts Council, and SVCREATES (Santa Clara County) — are coming together to present The Ground Beneath Us / La Tierra Bajo Nosotros, a shared regional exhibition exploring the many ways land shapes our communities, cultures, histories, and futures.
While the four organizations have collaborated as regional partners for years, this exhibition represents an intentional opportunity to work together across county lines on a shared platform for artists. The project brings together artists and creative communities from Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties, with a focus on artists living and working around Salinas, Watsonville, Hollister, and Gilroy, creating opportunities for artists to connect with audiences and fellow artists beyond their home communities.
Exhibition Theme: Exploring Land and Community
Land is more than geography. It holds memory, labor, migration, belonging, and change.
Artists are invited to explore:
- Agriculture and farm work
- Water, drought, and stewardship
- Migration, borders, and belonging
- Memory, home, and cultural inheritance
- Future visions for the shared region
As we prepare for our upcoming Quad County exhibition, The Ground Beneath Us / La Tierra Bajo Nosotros, we’re opening up time for artists to drop in, ask questions, and learn more about the exhibit and submission process.
Whether you’re still brainstorming, have questions about the theme, or want to talk through an idea, come through! No pressure, just a chance to connect and get the info you need.
🗓️ Open Office Hours / Horario de consulta:
• October 21 | 4–5 PM
• October 26 | 7–8 PM
• November 3 | 12–1 PM
Bring your questions, your ideas, and your curiosity. ¡Aquí les esperamos!Bring forward the stories, questions, and relationships that connect people to place. Submit your artwork >>
Read the full press release >>
View The Ground Beneath Us Info Guide