Call for Art: The Ground Beneath Us / La Tierra Bajo Nosotros
October 10 – November 10, 2026

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

Bring forward the stories, questions, and relationships that connect people to place. Submit your artwork >>

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Read the full press release >>


  • Key Dates:
    Call opens: Oct. 10, 2026
    Call closes: Nov. 10, 2026 @ 11:59pm
    Artwork drop-off: Jan. 11–16, 2027
    Exhibition: Jan. 22–Mar. 1, 2027
  • 2027 Receptions:
    January 23: Hollister
    January 30: Watsonville
    February 5: Salinas
    February 12: Gilroy
  • Locations:
    Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties
  • More information >>
  • Questions?
    quadcountypartners@gmail.com