PROGRAMS

Dream and build it.

Poetry Series Program

The Poetry Series Program serves youth in the Trinity and Shasta units of John A. Davis Juvenile Hall in Martinez. The arts mentorship program consists of spoken-word, poetry & artistic workshops led by Lead Workshop Artists Donté Clark and CieraJevae Gordon. The goal of these workshops is to build confidence for educational and professional opportunities. Youth participate in team building initiatives using creative expression tools.

Learn more about the Poetry Series Program!

Poetry Series Program administrators and Lead Workshop Artists Ben Jameson, Jenny Balisle, CieraJevae Gordon, and Donté Clark.

Art Passages

Art Passages is an exhibition program at the County Administration Building in Martinez, California. ARTSCCC curates quarterly exhibitions highlighting the creative community of Contra Costa County.

Watch an Art Passages Installation!

Art Passages photography exhibition at the County Administration Building in Martinez, October-December 2025.

DISTRICT ARTS PARTNER

As identified in ARTSCCC’s county contract, the District Arts Partner grant supports artist-led Contra Costa organizations that provide critical artist support such as exhibitions, directories, opportunities, advocacy, and community partnerships. Funding was made possible thanks to the Zellerbach Family Foundation, Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation, and Contra Costa County. Each organization received a $2000 grant for general operations support for the 2026 year.

District Arts Partner logos and Contra Costa County map.

POETRY OUT LOUD

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program and poetry recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program is administered as part of ARTSCCC’s California Arts Council State-Local-Partner grant.

2026 Contra Costa County Poetry Out Loud High School champions at the County Competition held at Pinole Valley High Theatre.

Cultural Corridor Project

Cultural Corridor Project connects communities from different Supervisoral Districts through artworks, exhibitions, and celebrations. With 19 cities in Contra Costa County, we seek to expand these connections.

Cultural Corridor Project artists Richard Muro Salazar and Jesse Hernandez

DANZA AZTECA TEOKALI

ARTSCCC has supported Danza Azteca Teokali (Teokali Aztec Dance), a Contra Costa County indigenous dance group, for performances at Fall Family Day at the Richmond Art Center in 2024 and 2025.

Watch Danza Azteca Teokali perform!

Danza Azteca Teokalli performance at the Richmond Art Center (Pooya Berahmandi photo).

Danza de los Diablos de Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca

ARTSCCC supported indigenous dance group, Danza de los Diablos de Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca (Dance of the Devils of Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca) in performances celebrating the 4th of July in Martinez in 2023 and 2024.

Watch Danza de los Diablos perform!

Danza de los Diablos de Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca (Dance of the Devils of Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca) July 4th parade performance in downtown Martinez, 2023 (Photo by Tony Tamayo).