First Night ArtWorks!

Our community spirit is best exemplified by First Night ArtWorks!, our year-round arts outreach program culminating on New Year's Eve.

We've engaged hundreds of young people and families who participated with professional artists in hands-on creative workshops in the visual, performing and multimedia arts at community sites around Monterey County.

Our 2015/2016 theme "Art is the Next Peace | Connecting Communities" Posts for Peace and Justice featured outreach projects using art to promote non-violent resolutions to problems, such as gangs, bullying, and domestic violence, with a goal of connecting communities and building positive healthy attitudes. FNM presented the artwork completed this past year by youth and community members within this project at our annual New Year's Eve festival.

Greenfield Cultural Arts

Working with community leaders in Greenfield, First Night continues to build community engagement coordinating programming for the Cultural Arts.

Guitar, visual arts, traditional dance classes were offered to youth. Computer tech classes were taught to adults and youth. In collaboration with the Hartnell College South County, ESL classes were taught to adults. Events included: Day of the Child, Day of the Dead, Las Posadas, art shows, free Mariachi guitar lessons with teacher Martin Castillo and other community building activities. Visit the GCAC website.

Azomali Aztec Dance Team

Ramon Hernandez formed Azomali Aztec Dance group in 2009. The group started with Ramon's family members; today the group has 30 dancers.

La Union Indigena Group

The Union Indigena Group was formed in 2005 with Triqui indigenous communities from the Mexican state of Oaxaca living in Greenfield. They pass on their cultural, language and family values to the next generations.

Arcoiris Cultural Dance Team

Arcoiris Cultural dance team was formed to reach out to the Greenfield community with the help of the Arts Council for Monterey County and First Night Monterey. Pilar Mendoza teaches folk, line and flamenco dancing for children.

Greenfield Summer Art Camp

Free art camps for Middle School students are presented by FNM for eight weeks every summer. Activities include digital art, drawing, watercolor and painting using traditional mural techniques. Read more below.