Arts Council Silicon Valley and 1stACT Silicon Valley merged in 2013 to create the regional nonprofit SVCREATES. SVCREATES builds on the Arts Council’s 30-year history of support to the arts community through regional grantmaking and professional development, and builds on 1stACT Silicon Valley’s dynamic role in incubating innovative programs and initiatives like SPUR San Jose, School of Arts and Culture at MHP, Gilroy Elevate the Arts, and The Studio. Former 1stACT Managing Director and CEO, Connie Martinez, led the merger and served as SVCREATES CEO for a decade. Alexandra Urbanowki became CEO in January 2024.
SVCREATES is committed to building the capacity of Silicon Valley’s arts ecosystem, raising its visibility and increasing access to arts and creativity.