What We Do
We select exemplary artists through a competitive process using independent expert panels and honor these artists with unrestricted cash prizes, promotion, and recognition.
Who We Serve
We serve Santa Clara County artists across multiple disciplines, as showcased in our SVLaureate Directory. These artists were selected for the quality of their work and their commitment to enriching our community with exhibitions, performances, presentations, and service. Additionally, we serve the broader community by introducing new artists and new artwork to arts lovers, students, and community leaders.
Why It’s Important
Artists contribute socially and culturally to a vibrant and creative community, challenge our hearts and minds, and bring joy, new insights, and learning to our lives. We believe they deserve our encouragement, recognition, and financial support.
What’s Been Done
- Celebrated the achievements of over 170 artists since 1991, across a wide range of artistic disciplines, and invested over $400,000 in their work
- Developed SVLaureate Directory to highlight the work of these artists and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Artist Laureate program in 2015
- Expanded the annual celebration into a grand party, including a special edition of Content Magazine featuring the Laureates and Emerging Artists
- Increased investment in the Content Emerging Artist Awards to provide support to our region’s best up and coming creatives
What’s Next
- SVCREATES is looking to know more about the experience of individual artists in Santa Clara County. If you are an artist or an arts educator in higher education: We invite you and every artist you know based in Santa Clara County, to fill out this survey. This survey will help determine SVCREATES' programming for the next several years.
2025 SVCREATES Content Emerging Artists
ABIAM ALVAREZ
Gilroy-based ceramicist Abiam Alvarez spent the first nine years of his life in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico before immigrating to the United States, where he grew up in the small Central Valley farming town of Firebaugh. His artwork gives voice to the labors and political issues surrounding agriculture, consumerism, and immigrant workers.
ALICE HUR
Alice Hur is a practitioner of a street dance style called “waacking," an evolution of the art form “punking," which was created out of underground Los Angeles clubs by a multicultural group of gay men during the 1970s. She has extensive experience in the broader street dance community with battling, judging, teaching, and serving as a community organizer within this style.
HANA LOCK
Visual artist Hana Lock uses mediums such as ballpoint pen, acrylic, and watercolor to create paintings and drawings that explore the beautiful and grotesque qualities inherent in the processes of life, death, and decay. Drawing inspiration from biological forms, her vibrant and intricate style is reminiscent of traditional Western and Japanese prints.
Emerging Artist photos by Brittany Bradley
