FNM’s Art Works! presents year-round, free arts workshops to introduce the visual and performing arts to children and adults throughout Monterey County and makes their work an integral part of the region’s largest New Year’s arts celebration. These workshops encourage an active involvement in and love of the arts. Young people and their families directly participate in hands-on workshops conducted by artists/educators in the months leading up to First Night. Often, these workshops offer important enrichment programs for community organizations with whom we partner to offer the workshops. The creative workshops culminate in exhibits and/or performances that become part of the First Night Celebration and are exhibited in other public venues throughout the region, such as the Monterey Peninsula Airport’s Gallery and the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco. These exhibits give voice to the viewpoints and philosophies of all our residents and illuminate the commonality of our world views.

Collaboration is woven into our philosophy of engaging both the artistic community and the greater community, bringing them together to enrich lives and promote understanding. We collaborate with approximately 50 artists, more than 20 schools and community and arts organizations, and hundreds of volunteers in order to be able to present our workshops and the Celebration. We collaborate with business partners such as MST to provide free transportation and with the Del Monte Center to offer free parking and shuttles to our audience on December 31st, and with CSU Monterey Bay for design work for each year’s look. We also rely on many sponsors and donors in our community to be able to present these workshops and the celebration year after year.

Mi Vida / Mi Pueblo
My Life / My Town

The First Night Outreach Program is a wonderful example of our success.

Download your own postcard (Front& Back)

Download your own poster (Intro & Teachers)

We are especially grateful to The City of Monterey, The Monterey Peninsula Foundation, The Community Foundation, The Arts Council for Monterey County, and all of the donors and sponsors who so generously contributed to our success. Thank you!

To become a sponsor or outreach partner, please call the First Night Office at the number at the top of this page.

To become an Artist/Instructor, please send an email to outreach@firstnightmonterey.org.