FNM’s ArtWorks! presents free year-round arts workshops to introduce the visual and performing arts to children and adults throughout Monterey County and makes their works 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 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 Gallery, Sunset Center, The National Steinbeck Center and 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 commonalities 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 also rely on many sponsors and donors in our community to be able to present these workshops and the celebration year after year.
The ArtWorks! Outreach Program is a wonderful example of our success
We are especially grateful to all of the donors and sponsors who so generously contributed to our success:
Arts Council for Monterey County
The California Arts Council, City of Monterey,
Pebble Beach Company,
National Endowment for the Arts,
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation,
Harden Foundation,
Yellow Brick Road,
Community Foundation for Monterey County,
Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Cardinale Moving and Storage, Salinas Valley Waste Authority, Best Buy, City of Greenfield
To become a Sponsor or Outreach Partner, call the First Night Office at 831 373-4478.
To become an Artist/Instructor, please