1 2025 IMPACT REPORT
CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT Recreation and
Arts Department
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2 CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT
The Recreation & Arts Department (RAD) enriches
lives by providing a dynamic array of recreation,
arts, and community event services—created with
and for the community—that inspire play, connection, and shared experience in Santa Monica’s public spaces. Delivering essential city services,
in support of physical and mental health, social
connection, cultural expression, and community
resilience, while contributing to the city’s small-town character and high quality of life.
The importance of safe, welcoming places to
gather was not theoretical in 2025. In the aftermath
of the January 7 Palisades Fire, which devastated
much of Pacific Palisades, the city of Santa Monica
mobilized quickly in a true One SaMo response.
RAD played a pivotal role by opening community
facilities as places of refuge and support for evacuees who arrived with little more than the clothes they were wearing. As recovery continued, RAD
staff helped displaced families reestablish routines
and reconnect to essential community services,
including arts, cultural, and recreation programs
that provided stability, healing, and connection
during a prolonged period of disruption.
RAD’s recovery efforts extended beyond direct
services to individuals and families to include
support for artists, cultural workers, and community-based organizations impacted by the fire.
Through the Cultural Affairs Division, the Art of
Recovery grant program provided critical funding to
nonprofit arts and service organizations supporting
wildfire survivors. Rental relief was also provided to
artists at the Airport Art Studios, many of whom lost
homes, studios, artwork, and livelihoods. Across
divisions, RAD adapted programs and hosted targeted community events designed to meet the unique needs of wildfire survivors of all ages.
At the same time, RAD continued advancing
the City’s broader priorities and long-term vision.
In July, the department led a citywide celebration
marking the reopening of the Miles Memorial
Playhouse with a community Play Day at Reed
Park as part of the State of the City. This event
celebrated the completion of two years of facility
improvements and reinvestment, returning a
beloved cultural asset to active community use and
demonstrating the power of arts, recreation, and
FROM OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD, JENNY ROGERS
IN THIS REPORT
Recreation
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Aquatics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Beach Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Comunity Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Sports & Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Cultural Affairs
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Pillars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Cultural Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Programs & Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Grants & Artist Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Grantmaking: Arts Transportation . . . . . . 22
Art of Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Public Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Administration
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Looking Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Commissions and Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Our Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Intro
2025, A Year
of Impact
public space to bring people together.
RAD’s work in 2025 also aligned with the City
Council–adopted Realignment Plan, supporting
public safety, economic recovery, organizational
capacity, and long-term fiscal stability. Recreation
and Arts services are foundational to this work.
Santa Monica is truly a small city in an urban
environment. Given its unique placement, Arts and
Culture are at the core of this place in a community
where creativity is part of the local fabric and
cultural participation strengthens civic life. In this
ideal recreational environment, Santa Monica’s
recreation programs—on land and in water,
indoors and outdoors—serve residents of all ages
and abilities and reflect the city’s identity as a place where recreation is a way of life all year.
Known for its exquisite natural beauty and near
perfect climate, Santa Monica is the place for play.
The adoption of the 2025 Parks and Recreation
Vision Plan further reinforced this role, establishing
a long-term framework for recreation and arts
facilities and programs and guiding future investment, including planning for the Beach and Pier Vision Plan. Together, these efforts position RAD
as a key contributor to a resilient, inclusive, and
forward-looking Santa Monica.
As a city department, we build community. Our
RAD services provide a helping hand for the most
vulnerable, a gathering place for social connection
and enrich the small-town character and high
quality of life in Santa Monica. Recreation and Arts
are the why for why people decide to live, visit and
vacation in Santa Monica. Come join the fun in the
best place on earth for play — Santa Monica is RAD
and our cultural renaissance has only just begun!
Known for its exquisite
natural beauty and near
perfect climate, Santa
Monica is the place for play.
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2 3
Recreation
Recreation
In 2025, the Community Recreation Division continued to deliver high quality programs, facilities, and services that support play, connection, health and quality of life across Santa Monica. From busy pools, gyms, and fields, to vibrant camps, classes, and community events, participation remained strong throughout the year and across all age groups.
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT This level of engagement is reinforced by the
Council adopted Santa Monica Parks and Recreation Vision Plan. Survey results show that 96% of respondents visit parks, arts, or recreation
facilities in a typical year, and 49% participate
in a City program annually, both well above
national averages. These findings reflect how
central recreation facilities and programs are to
daily life in Santa Monica.
Seasonal camps, youth and adult classes,
aquatics, and fitness programs continued to see
high demand, particularly during school breaks.
Collaborating with schools through Joint Use
Agreements enabled access to school sites and
remains essential in meeting year-round recreation needs, while ongoing facility maintenance and targeted improvements helped ensure safe,
welcoming, and well used spaces. Community
events such as the Spooky Splash, Polar Bear
Plunge and the Toys for Tots Softball Tournament added energy and connection across City facilities.
The division also focused on access and
inclusion. Westside Special Olympics programming expanded and hosted multiple tournaments, and staff worked closely with schools and community partners to coordinate shared
use of fields, gyms, and pools amid increasing
demand and to help displaced schools and
youth organizations from the Palisades Fire. In
response to community feedback, hours at the
Memorial Park Fitness Room, SAMOHI Pool
and Pickleball Open Play were expanded, and
staff continued to refine operations to better
serve residents.
A significant area of focus in 2025 was the
division’s role in supporting recovery efforts
related to the Palisades Fire. Community Recreation worked extensively with displaced schools, youth sports organizations, and community partners to relocate recreation programming, school athletics, and physical education activities into
Santa Monica facilities. This required a high
level of coordination, flexibility, and responsiveness from staff, as well as close collaboration across departments and with external partners.
These efforts not only ensured continuity of
programming for impacted communities, but
also demonstrated the strength, adaptability,
and regional importance of Santa Monica’s
recreation system.
Recreation
COMMUNITY RECREATION 2025 BY THE NUMBERS
7,236
4,575
participants
enrolled in Learn
to Swim classes
+218K
Total aquatics visits
across 3 different
facilities
+40K
+$5 M
in annual earned revenue
supporting program
sustainability
807
teams registered
across volleyball,
basketball, soccer, softball,
and pickleball totaling over
10,000 participants
23,555
permits issued for
courts, fields, meeting
rooms, beach volleyball
courts, BBQ areas, and
other amenities
+31K
annual
hours of
community
recreation
access
at school
sites,
including:
• Fields and Tracks
• Gyms
• Elementary School
Playgrounds
• SAMOHI Pool
• Tennis and Pickleball
courts
10,984
resident membership
passes sold for the Skate
Park, Memorial Park Gym
and Fitness Center, Santa
Monica Swim Center, and
Reed Park Tennis Center
total
participants
in Pickleball
Open Play
COMMUNITY RECREATION DIVISION
Overview
These numbers reflect a highly active recreation system with strong participation across all age groups, significant demand for programs and facilities, and a growing need to continue expanding and evolving our programs.
unique participants across
community camps and classes
Community Recreation programs
and facilities continued to serve as
important gathering places for residents of all ages in 2025. Through aquatics, sports, camps, classes,
fitness, special events, and shared
use facilities, the division provided
a wide range of opportunities that
promoted recreation, wellness,
learning, and community connection throughout the year.
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6 LEARN-TO-SWIM
SWIM TEAM
JUNIOR LIFEGUARD
LIFEGUARD &
SWIM INSTRUCTOR
CERTIFICATION
CITY EMPLOYMENT
AQUATIC/BEACH
RECREATION
SITE LEADERSHIP
CONTINUED
ADVANCEMENT
WITHIN THE CITY
AND BEYOND.
7 CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT Recreation
Aquatics
Our Aquatics team provides year-round public
access, instruction, competitive programming,
and safety education across three pool sites:
Santa Monica Swim Center, Annenberg Community Beach House Pool, and Santa Monica High School Pool. Serving residents of all ages,
Aquatics supports early swim instruction, youth
development, competitive athletics, senior
fitness, and lifelong wellness.
Aquatics remains one of the City’s most
consistently utilized recreation services and
serves as both a public health asset and a
critical public safety resource.
YOUTH-TO-PROFESSIONAL PATHWAY
Beyond programming, Aquatics maintains
rigorous safety standards, continuous staff
training, and emergency preparedness
coordination. The division builds futureready professionals, strengthens public safety capacity, and provides a trusted civic
space that supports health, connection, and
community resilience.
2025 HIGHLIGHTS
1st Place
captured by Sharks Swim Team at the 2025
Southern California Municipal Athletic
Foundation Championships, competing
against 15 teams and 400+ athletes.
218,272
Total Visits across three pool
facilities, reflecting sustained
community demand.
WATER SAFETY MONTH
Following the Mayor’s proclamation in
May, Aquatics led a citywide campaign
focused on youth engagement, safety
education, public library partnerships,
interdepartmental collaboration, and
free community CPR training.
1,060
Youth athletes (across
six sessions) attended
the Team Santa Monica
Swim Meet and the
Western State Conference
Championships in
partnership with Santa
Monica College, welcoming
top collegiate athletes
2,000
residents attended Summer
Splash Nights and the 3rd
Annual Spooky Splash
#1
Recreation
“ The Aquatics team at
all levels is dedicated to
safety, health, teaching, and
developing swimmers. The
current leadership, coaches,
and lifeguards have taken it
to a whole new level.”
Our
Model
Aquatics sustains
one of the City’s
strongest internal
talent pipelines
resulting in
115 TRAINED
AQUATIC SAFETY
PERSONNEL
in 2025.
- SANTA MONICA
RESIDENT
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT Recreation
2025 HIGHLIGHTS
1,000+
CAMPS & CLASSES
DELIVERED
Expanded offerings
across arts, STEM,
fitness, and youth
enrichment, including
new trend-responsive
programs such as
K-Pop Demon
Hunters Camp.
NEIGHBORHOOD
STEM EXPANSION
Partnered with Fairview
Branch Library to bring
STEM camps directly into
community spaces.
STRONG SEASONAL
CAMP OPERATIONS
Delivered high-quality
summer and schoolbreak camps supporting
working families
and sustained youth
engagement.
MODERNIZED
FACILITY ACCESS
Streamlined the
community room rental
process to improve
customer experience and
operational efficiency.
50 YEARS OF WESTSIDE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Founded in 1976 in partnership with Olympic champion Rafer Johnson, Westside Special Olympics (WSO) has been operated continuously by the City of Santa Monica for 50 years.
WSO currently offers
seven sports across three
seasons and is part of
Special Olympics Southern
California, serving athletes
throughout the West Los
Angeles region. Powered by
dedicated volunteers, WSO
hosts two annual regional
tournaments and has sup-
ported athletes advancing
to represent Team USA at
the Special Olympics World
Games.
For five decades, Santa
Monica has remained a
regional leader in inclusive
recreation, enriching the
lives of athletes, families,
and volunteers.
Community
Programs
The Community Camps, Classes & Westside Special Olympics (WSO) program area delivers inclusive recreation, enrichment, and adaptive sports opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities. Through camps, contract classes, and competitive programming, the program area supports youth development, lifelong learning, and equitable access to recreation.
Recreation
Beach Recreation activates Santa Monica’s iconic
shoreline as a year-round destination for recreation,
fitness, competition, and community connection.
From Ocean Park to the Annenberg Community
Beach House, programming supports residents,
schools, athletes, and visitors across all ages and skill levels through beach camps, surf camps, sand sports
leagues, open play access, and contracted fitness and
wellness classes on the sand and in the water.
Through tournaments, seasonal camps,
instructional programs, and long-standing
partnerships, Beach Recreation reinforces Santa
Monica’s identity as a premier coastal recreation
destination. The division also oversees popular
community events including the Cardboard Yacht
Regatta and the Polar Bear Swim, which draw
hundreds of participants and spectators annually.
Beach Recreation
BEACH RECREATION & COMMUNITY REACH
continues to balance preservation, access, and
activation, ensuring the shoreline remains an
inclusive, well-managed, and vibrant gathering
space that reflects Santa Monica’s coastal identity.
Programming served residents and visitors alike,
providing accessible outdoor recreation in one of the
City’s most visible and valued public spaces.
BEACH & SURF
PROGRAMMING
Youth beach and
surf camps provided
structured coastal
recreation.
COURT &
SAND SPORTS
Ongoing beach
volleyball
leagues, tourna-
ments, camps,
and classes
REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
Hosted competitive events
drawing participants from across
Southern California and beyond.
SCHOOL & COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS Continued
collaboration with schools,
athletic groups, and instructors
to expand coastal recreation
access.
2025 HIGHLIGHTS
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT Recreation
EVERGREEN PROGRAMMING & SERVICES
• Seasonal adult sports leagues
including softball, soccer,
volleyball, basketball, and
pickleball totaling over 10,000
participants annually
• Ongoing open play, reservation
systems, and court access across
multiple sites for tennis and
pickleball
• Daily operations of Memorial
Park Gym and Fitness Center
• Year-round oversight of Cove
Skatepark, one of California’s
premier skate facilities, offering
camps, classes, weekly bike
sessions, girls-focused and adult
sessions, along with general
membership hours that serve
riders of all skill levels
• Permitting for sports fields,
courts, beach athletics,
gym use, picnic areas,
and commercial fitness
instruction
The Sports & Athletics program area activates
Santa Monica’s parks, fields, gyms, courts, and
beach spaces through year-round leagues, open
play, fitness access, and comprehensive facility permitting — ensuring safe, equitable, and vibrant use of City assets.
2025 HIGHLIGHTS
• Expanded pickleball open play and the
launch of a new league
• Added adult volleyball at SAMOHI and
a Friday night co-ed softball league
• Increased Memorial Park Fitness
Room hours
• Coordinated with Public Works on the
installation of new scoreboards at Los
Amigos and Historic Belmar Park with
generous financial support from the
Santa Monica Kiwanis Club
• Hosted inclusive programming including
Aceing Autism and weekly girls-focused
skate sessions that provide dedicated
time for skill-building, mentorship, and
community connection in a supportive
environment
• Celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the
Cove Skatepark and the 110th Annual
Dudley Cup Tennis Tournament
• Supported Toys for Tots tournaments and
provided athletics/PE space for displaced
Palisades schools
Facilities
City Parks &
Recreation
Facilities
Airport Park
Clover Park
Douglas Park
Gandara Park
Historic Belmar Park
Los Amigos Park
Marine Park
Memorial Park
Ocean View Park
Reed Park
Specialized
Recreation
Facilities
Reed Park Tennis
Center
Cove Skatepark
Santa Monica Swim
Center
Beach Facilities
Beach Parks, Courts
& Fields
Annenberg
Community Beach
House Pool
School Sites (Joint
Use Partnerships)
Santa MonicaMalibu Unified
School District
(SMMUSD):
John Adams
Middle School
Lincoln Middle
School
Santa Monica
High School
SMMUSD
Elementary Schools
(Grant, Will Rogers,
McKinley, Franklin,
Edison, Roosevelt)
Windward School
Community
Recreation
Division Pillars
Community Recreation
provides a wide
range of services and
opportunities to the
community through its
four program areas:
AQUATICS
BEACH RECREATION
COMMUNITY
PROGRAMMING
SPORTS & ATHLETICS
core
4 These highlights
represent a
snapshot of a
much broader year
of programming,
partnerships,
and community
activation across
Santa Monica’s
recreation system.
Sports & Athletics
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12 Cultural
Affairs
During 2025, Santa Monica’s Cultural Affairs Division
experienced a transformative period. As our community
emerged from a time of profound change, artists, cultural organizations, and residents came together to rebuild,
reconnect, and reimagine what creative life in our city can be.
Cultural Affairs
String Theory
Gather and Grow
August 16, 2025,
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT
FACILITIES
34 CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Overview
This report reflects a year
defined by renewal—most notably
the reopening of the historic
Miles Memorial Playhouse,
the continued evolution of the
Camera Obscura residency,
expanded cultural programming
at the Beach House, renewed
energy and oversite at the Airport
Arts Center, and a growing
calendar of citywide events in
parks and public spaces.
With three new staff members supporting
facilities, grants, and programming, we expanded
our capacity to launch new initiatives, strengthen
collaborations, and invest directly in Santa
Monica’s creative workforce through grants,
residencies, and microgrants.
We also had the privilege of helping shape
Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary—supporting
community-led projects that uplifted the voices,
histories, and stories of our city. And through the
Art of Recovery initiative, we continued to fund
artists in ways that advance healing, resilience,
and public connection.
The arts remain a powerful force in shaping
civic identity, strengthening neighborhoods, and
bringing people together. This year, we witnessed
that power everywhere—from public art at City
Yards to vibrant events in our parks to the work
of dozens of organizations supported through our
grants.
Cultural Affairs embodies how the arts are an
essential civic service—woven into the identity,
wellbeing, and daily life of Santa Monica. Our
mission is to ensure residents, visitors, artists,
and arts organizations have access to opportuCultural Affairs $538K
distributed
in arts grants
27 Organizational Support
Program (OSP) grantees were
funded and 20 Community Access
& Participation (CAP) projects.
$48K awarded to 4
individual artist fellowships and
project grants
schools and
nonprofits
suppored
through the Arts
Transportation Grant
12 GRANTS
EVENTS + PROGRAMS
PUBLIC ART
33 Art of Recovery
projects
supported,
including 11 firerecovery activations
in parks, streets, and
community spaces.
supporting nonprofit organizations,
individual artists, youth access,
and transportation to cultural
destinations.
80+ events on
the new community
calendar funded
through Santa Monica’s 150th
Anniversary microgrant program
New artist
residency
program that
commissioned a
new permanent
commission
Manos Unidas,
a piece created
with Public Works
staff with artist
Tanya Aguiñiga at
City Yards
31 temporary
exhibitions, Art
Bank rotations,
and ongoing
maintenance
of key artworks
across the city
1,200+
attendees at the reopening
of Miles Memorial Playhouse
after five years closed, while
hosting 12 public rentals.
15+
bands
brought to
parks and
public spaces
for Make
Music Day
the
Annenberg
Community
Beach House
produced:
17 cultural
programs
(1,005
attendees) and
18 community
programs
(4,151
attendees)
12 artists-inresidence
+ 14
workshops
+ 365
workshop
participants
Camera Obscura
Art Lab supported:
studio
artists
the Airport Arts
Center and 3026
Studios supported:
“ Given the current instability in arts
funding nationally, support from
the City of Santa Monica is more important
than ever.”
JOSEPHINE MOERSCHEL
Executive Director of Elemental Music,
an OSP and CAP grant recipient
nities for creativity, connection, and cultural
expression across the city.
Throughout 2025 Cultural Affairs
advanced this mission while supporting the
City’s newly adopted Realignment Plan and its
strategic priorities. Our work contributes to:
• Achieving Safe Neighborhoods &
Clean Streets through activation
of parks, community spaces, and
neighborhood gathering places.
• Activating Economic Opportunity
& Growth through the rental and
operation of cultural facilities and by
supporting artists and arts organizations whose work drives economic activity.
• Building Organizational Capacity
& Health through new streamlined
grant processes, improved operational systems, and community partnerships that allow work to scale.
This report reflects the breadth and depth
of Cultural Affairs’ work: grants and funding
programs, public art, artist residencies, community events, cultural facilities, signature initiatives, and deep cross-city collaborations.
At the heart of it all are the people we serve.
Uplifting Black
Legacy, Chicken Soup
Performance
Marjani FortéSaunders,
February 27, 2025
Photo by
Asha Mone of
HRDWRKER
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT CULTURAL AFFAIRS Cultural Affairs
Cultural Affairs works through six interconnected
program areas to deliver broad public benefit
through culture.
Pillars of Work
Barbara Carrasco,
Self Portrait in
a time of Crisis
2024
THE SIX CORE AREAS INCLUDE:
• Cultural Facilities
• Programs & Events
• Grants & Artist Support
• Residencies
• Public Art
• Citywide Initiatives
ANNENBERG COMMUNITY BEACH HOUSE
The Annenberg Community Beach House
is both a beloved public destination and a
sought-after rental venue, offering inclusive
community access alongside unique spaces for
gatherings and events.
Public Place
As a signature community destination, the
Beach House blends historic legacy with
contemporary, family-friendly amenities. The
space offers the public spectacular ocean views,
a splash pad, playground, beach courts and
fields, open seating, free Wi-Fi, community and
cultural events, and Back on the Beach Café.
Cultural Affairs produced 17 cultural programs
(1,005 attendees) and supported 18 community
events (approximately 4,151 attendees). The
Marion Davies Gold Coast–era guest house
offers year-round tours as well as swimming in
the historic pool during the summer.
Rental Venue
The Beach House also serves as an exceptional
rental and filming location, generating local
economic activity while supporting community
engagement. It accommodates gatherings from
intimate meetings of ten to celebrations of up to
280 guests and is available for private events,
meetings, and film and photo shoots in a truly
one-of-a-kind coastal setting.
2025 Event Bookings
• 153 booked private events
• 11,226 attendees
Event Booking Highlights
• Kia K4 “Morning Haze” Color Unveiling/
Media Launch Ride and Drive – Members of
Asian media outlets got the first look at the
new “Morning Haze” color of the Kia K4 and
got the opportunity to drive the K4 along the
California coast from the Beach House.
• Disney+ Home Alone Themed Holiday
Party – Influencer event that transformed the
Guest House into the McCallister house with
interactive Home Alone content
• Germany’s Next Topmodel Filming and Photo Shoot – Contestants took part in video and photo shoots in the historic Beach House pool
in season 20 of Germany’s Next Topmodel
• TEDx Great Pacific Garbage Patch – Speakers presented in front of an intimate live audience at the Beach House, and their talks
were livestreamed to a global audience, with
attendees tuning in from every continent on
Earth (except Antarctica).
Cultural Facilities
Across all of this
work, the division
strives to provide
accessible, inclusive,
and creative experiences that reflect
the diversity and
vibrancy of the Santa
Monica community.
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT
CAMERA OBSCURA ART LAB
The Camera Obscura Art Lab (COAL) in
Palisades Park was Santa Monica’s community arts practice studio, hosting three artists-in-residence cohorts each year for
14-week terms. Part of a larger network of
artist opportunities administered by Cultural
Affairs, the COAL residency program has
supported more than 200 artists across
disciplines including visual arts, textiles, lightbased work, ceramics, large-scale installation, and community muralism.
During this reporting period, COAL
supported 12 resident artists who offered 14
public workshops, reaching 365 participants.
Recent program adjustments increased artist
stipends, expanded outreach, and strengthened ties to the broader creative community, including a prioritized focus on artists impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires.
MILES MEMORIAL PLAYHOUSE
The Miles Memorial Playhouse is a historic
landmark located in Christine Emerson Reed
Park. Completed in 1929 and designed by
architect John Byers in the Spanish Colonial
Revival style, the building retains original
architectural features including its stage,
chandeliers, sconces, proscenium arch,
hand-hewn beams, and landmark fireplace.
For more than 95 years, the Playhouse has
served as a civic cultural gathering space for
performance, community events, and youth
engagement.
Following a five-year closure beginning in
2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the
Miles reopened in July 2025 with a reimagined, community-centered State of the City celebration that welcomed more than 1,200
attendees.
Bringing the Miles back online required
significant restoration and operational
preparation, followed by a six-month pilot that
tested systems, programming and rentals
and welcomed community partners including
Community Corp, artEquity, Art of Recovery
grantees, and local theater and performance
organizations.
The Playhouse is now fully available to rent
for nonprofit performing arts presentations,
individual artist productions, meetings,
special events, film shoots, and photo shoots.
During 2025, the Miles has hosted 12 rentals, with community feedback consistently praising its accessibility, affordability, historic
character, and staff support.
AIRPORT ARTS CENTER, 3026 STUDIOS
The Santa Monica Airport has a rich history
as the former home of the Douglas Aircraft
Company and the birthplace of the DC-3
and has been home to notable artists dating
back to the 1950s. The Airport now houses
the largest concentration of artists in Santa
Monica, comprising 60 art studios and creative spaces across four airplane hangars and additional buildings forming the Airport Arts
Center.
These studios are a cultural asset to the
city, ensuring artists can continue to have a
presence in the city and create an arts campus
that draws local and regional visitors.
CULTURAL AFFAIRS Cultural Affairs
The 3026 Studios hangar contains 34 artist
studios and serves as an active creative hub
with year-round programming that includes
artist-led workshops, curated exhibitions,
professional development offerings, and public
open studio events.
A central focus this period has been elevating the work of Airport studio artists through expanded visibility initiatives—including a
rotating exterior banner exhibition, the first
exhibition featuring only Airport-based artists,
and a series of artist-led workshops for the
community.
A recent RFP and the selection of a new
cultural programming manager for the 3026
Studios has provided increased support for the
artists, expanded public engagement, and continues to evolve the space as a thriving center for artistic practice and community connection.
BERGAMOT STATION ARTS CENTER
Bergamot Station Arts Center is a beloved
arts and cultural hub of commercial galleries,
and visual and performing arts organizations,
offering free exhibitions, ticketed performances,
and community-driven public programs.
For nearly three decades, Bergamot Station
Arts Center has served as a Santa Monica
arts and cultural hub—home to galleries,
performances, installations, and year-round
community programming, as well as artist and
curatorial residencies.
Cultural Affairs partners with the City’s
Economic Development Department, which
manages the site, and with the Bergamot Ad
Hoc Subcommittee of the Arts Commission,
which reviews tenant applications to ensure
alignment with the center’s mission and
continued vibrancy.
“ Our cultural facilities are
more than buildings, they
are places where artists create,
communities gather, and Santa
Monica's cultural identity
continues to evolve.”
SOFIA KLATZKER, CULTURAL AFFAIRS MANAGER
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT Programs
& Events
KEY PROGRAMS AND
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
• Reed Park
Hosted Gather & Grow,
a neighborhood-based
series of performances,
workshops, recreation
activities, and cultural
activations.
• Gandara Park
Featured Americana
in the Park, a music
series and community
programming focused
on local engagement and
connection.
• Tongva Park
Served as the home
of Endless Summer, a
series of family-friendly
seasonal activations and
public programming
throughout the year.
• Palisades Park
Hosted Vamos Al Parque,
a culturally focused
neighborhood event
series featuring community gatherings and
performances.
• Miles Memorial
Playhouse
Hosted the annual State
of the City, a major civic
kickoff gathering featuring City highlights from
the past year alongside
arts programming,
drawing more than 1,200
attendees.
• Santa Monica Airport
Served as the site for
Frieze Los Angeles, a
partner-produced art fair
and public art activations
supported through Art of
Recovery.
• Camera Obscura
Art Lab
Supported 12 resident
artists who offered 14
public workshops, reaching 365 participants.
• Annenberg Community
Beach House
Delivered ongoing
site-specific cultural
programs and workshops
that connect artists,
residents, and visitors.
Many of these programs are
produced in collaboration with
other City divisions and community partners, including Mobility, the Santa Monica Public Library, Community Recreation,
Public Works, Parks & Public
Landscaping, neighborhood
associations, and nonprofit organizations. Impact metrics for these programs are reflected
throughout this report in attendance figures, artist participation, and event counts.
Our citywide
programs activate
parks, public spaces
and facilities—
creating moments
of connection across
neighborhoods and
bringing art into
daily life.
FUNDING SANTA MONICA’S
CULTURAL ECOSYSTEM
Cultural Affairs administers a suite of grants
that strengthen arts organizations, expand
access for residents, support artists, and
connect community members with regional
cultural opportunities
Across programs, Cultural Affairs invested
$538,723 during this period, supporting
nonprofit organizations, individual artists,
youth programming, and equitable access to
arts experiences.
STREAMLINED GRANT PROCESSES
Cultural Affairs implemented significant improvements to make grants more accessible and efficient including:
• Combined the OSP/CAP application
and contract into a single process so
organizations submit one application
and sign one agreement each year.
• Moved all programs into SurveyMonkey
Apply, centralizing applications,
reviews, and reporting.
• Simplified application questions,
aligning with regional funders such
as LA County Arts while maintaining
Santa Monica-specific priorities.
• These changes reduced administrative
burden and improved accessibility for
applicants, reviewers, and staff.
GRANTMAKING: ORGANIZATIONAL
SUPPORT PROGRAM & COMMUNITY ACCESS
& PARTICIPATION
Organizational Support Program (OSP)
The Organizational Support Program provides multiyear general operating support for Santa Monica–based nonprofit arts and
culture organizations.
• 27 OSP organizations were funded
• $409,926 was awarded
• Disciplines included dance, theater,
visual arts, community and heritage
organizations, literary arts
Three new OSP grantees were welcomed:
Crow Comedy, Human Family Educational &
Cultural Institute (Humanitas), and the Santa
Monica Pier Corporation.
COMMUNITY ACCESS & PARTICIPATION
The Community Access & Participation
(CAP) program provides project-based
support for arts programming that increases
access for residents and visitors.
• 20 CAP projects were funded
• $73,799 was awarded
INDIVIDUAL ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
& PROJECT SUPPORT
The city of Santa Monica is one of the few
municipalities that provides funding directly
to artists. Cultural Affairs supports individual
artists through fellowships and project grants
that recognize artistic excellence and encourage new work. • 4 artists were funded
• $48,000 was awarded
Grants & Artist Support
Cultural Affairs
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT Cultural Affairs
Art of Recovery
OVERVIEW
Art of Recovery (AoR) is Santa Monica’s flagship creative recovery initiative, supporting artists, cultural producers, and community-based organizations in activating public space and
fostering shared cultural experiences. In
2025, AoR continued to serve as a flexible and
responsive tool for community vitality, economic activation, and healing—particularly in the context of fire recovery. Comprised of two
complementary components—the AoR Microgrant Program, which supports small-scale, community-based projects, and AoR Producing
Partners, which funds larger, more complex
creative productions—the program animated
parks, streets, and civic spaces; provided paid
opportunities for artists and creative workers;
engaged local businesses and partners; and
created accessible cultural experiences for
residents and visitors across a wide range of
formats, including performances, festivals,
exhibitions, installations, neighborhood activations, and media-based work.
In 2025, Art of Recovery funded 33 projects,
allocating $144,750 in support. Of these, 11
projects directly addressed fire recovery and
community healing, offering opportunities for
connection, reflection, and collective care for
those impacted by the Palisades Fire. Through
these efforts, AoR played a key role in helping
artists, cultural workers, and community
organizations respond meaningfully to evolving community needs.
MICROGRANT PROGRAM
The AoR Microgrant Program provides
grants of up to $5,000 to support projects
that activate public space, engage residents,
and build community connection. In 2025,
microgrants supported a broad range of smallscale, high-impact projects, with priority given to first-time applicants and initiatives that
centered Santa Monica residents and enliven
public space.
PRODUCING PARTNERS
AoR Producing Partners is an RFP-based
program that partners with and supports
larger-scale creative production led by arts
and cultural organizations, collectives, and
individual producers. In 2025, 13 Producing
Partner projects were supported, including
family-focused programming, music festivals,
cultural celebrations, citywide arts events,
and neighborhood-based initiatives. Partners
included local business districts, arts organizations, and community collaborators, with additional partners selected for future cycles.
AoR-supported projects and events are
featured throughout this report, including
high-profile public activations as well as
smaller, community-centered gatherings,
illustrating the program’s breadth and its role
in strengthening Santa Monica’s cultural life
in 2025.
ARTS TRANSPORTATION GRANT (ATG)
The Arts Transportation Grant supports
transportation to arts and culture sites for Santa
Monica–based schools and nonprofits, expanding
access to regional cultural resources.
• 12 grantees received support
• $6,999 was reimbursed for transportation costs
Grantmaking:
Arts Transportation
“ For some students,
this was their first
time visiting the Getty
Center, and they were so
excited to ride the tram
up the hill...Students received parking passes so
they could return with
their families, extending
the impact well beyond a
single visit.”
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT Public Art
Santa Monica’s civic public art program
commissions new works and stewards
the City’s Public Art Collection, featuring
works by local, national, and international
artists and encompassing permanent
artworks, a robust archive of temporary
works, and the Art Bank, a rotating collection displayed in public facilities. The City’s Percent for Art program contributes
to the built and cultural environment with
artworks made possible by both private
development and public works projects.
Ongoing programs include Acknowledge + Reframe Together, a series of civic reimagining projects that center
historically excluded communities. The
collection is enhanced with work from
artists in residence, artist fellows, and
artists enlisted to contribute to other City
projects and grant programs.
This work is administered by Santa Monica Cultural Affairs in consultation with the City’s Arts Commission and Public Art
Committee and with reference to public
art policies and guidelines.
CULTURAL AFFAIRS Cultural Affairs
PUBLIC WORKS ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE For
the Percent for Art funded program at the
newly modernized City Yards, Cultural Affairs
partnered with Public Works to commission a
permanent artwork and host a civic-embedded
artist residency, both centered on deep engagement with essential workers and the daily operations of the site.
The permanent commission was executed
by Tanya Aguiñiga and resulted in the Manos
Unidas tile mural installed in City Yards, on
Operations Building A in early 2025, as well
as several other smaller sculpture projects
throughout the site.
Artist Debra Scacco was selected to execute
a multiyear artist residency embedded with the
Resource, Recovery & Recycling (RRR) and
Water divisions of Public Works. During the
course of her residency, she explored the lives
of essential workers onsite through portraiture,
a poster campaign presented on city trash and
recycling trucks, and a park festival; toured
infrastructure sites; held discussions about
water stewardship with public agency and
community experts; created a poster print for
the Water division; and developed a culminating
exhibit featuring artwork and documentation of
the residency.
COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
Santa Monica’s Art Bank, established in 1984
and funded through the City’s Percent for
Art Program, brings art into public spaces
and includes more than 200 works including
sculpture, painting, photography, and works on
paper by notable artists.
Art Bank installations and acquisitions
brought artworks into City offices, the Miles
Memorial Playhouse, and other public facilities,
keeping the collection in active circulation.
Temporary exhibitions included Refractions:
Contemporary Indigenous Art at the Annenberg
Community Beach House and Laboratory for
the Future, the culminating exhibition of Debra
Scacco’s residency with Public Works at the
Airport Arts Center, along with additional Art of
Recovery–related displays across the city.
The division coordinated maintenance and
emergency conservation for several key artworks, ensuring that existing public art remains safe, visible, and cared for.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Cultural Affairs staff supported mural policy
language revisions and began laying groundwork for future civic memory, monuments, and markers policy development.
Tanya Aguiñiga,
Manos Unidas
photo by Gina Clyne
Debra Scacco, Water Map
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT SANTA MONICA’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY
2025 marked Santa Monica’s 150th anniversary and the
community was invited to celebrate shared history, honor untold stories, and imagine the city’s future, supporting public events aligned with the celebration’s themes of:
• Celebrating community history and diversity
• Honoring achievement
• Addressing historical inequities
• Fostering connection
Program Results
• 33 projects funded
• $58,000 awarded
• Projects included staged readings, historic storytelling, veterans’ art, writing workshops, digital game creation, performances, exhibits, and community
celebrations
• Over 80 events were included in a new community-wide online calendar enabling the community to explore all the events happening during the anniversary. Cultural Affairs will continue to grow and open the calendar to the broader community to ensure
citywide cultural events are easy to find and access.
Special Initiatives
Administration
Administration Division
COMMUNITY EVENTS
In 2025, the Community Events team continued to support a wide range of public, private, and cultural events that animate
Santa Monica’s streets, parks, beaches, and
iconic venues. From neighborhood celebrations and athletic gatherings to festivals, demonstrations, and brand activations,
these events play an important role in
strengthening community connection,
cultural expression, and local economic
vitality. Throughout the year, the team partnered closely with residents, organizations, and City departments to guide events from
concept through completion, balancing
creativity, access, and public safety while
helping bring ideas to life.
During the year, the Community Events
team permitted and supported 163 events,
reflecting both sustained demand and
Santa Monica’s role as a regional destination for gatherings of all sizes. In addition to day-to-day event support, a key focus for
the team has been improving and streamlining the permitting and licensing process so it is user-friendly, transparent, and easy
to navigate for both applicants and staff.
This work includes the development of a
new Community Event Planning Guide,
designed to clearly outline requirements,
fees, and available locations.
OVERVIEW
The Administration Division supports the
department’s overall mission by ensuring the
systems, resources, and operations are in place
to effectively deliver programs and services.
The division oversees a department budget of
$25,388,051, ensuring resources are aligned
with community and department priorities,
and maintains the bookkeeping for the Santa
Monica Arts Foundation. Staff also coordinate
procurement and contract preparation,
conduct policy review, support operations at
the Annenberg Community Beach House, and
provide broad administrative oversight. These
efforts help ensure transparency, efficiency, and
the responsible use of public funds.
MAKE MUSIC DAY – SANTA MONICA
Make Music Day is a global celebration
of music observed in 800 cities across
110 countries on June 21, the summer
solstice, inspired by France's Fête de la
Musique. The city of Santa Monica has
participated in Make Music Day since its
inception in 2012 and provides support
to neighborhood associations through
its Art of Recovery program to present
outdoor concerts.
In 2025, three neighborhood associations were funded supporting free outdoor concerts in neighborhoods
across the city building community
and bringing live music into parks and
streets.
Impact:
• 3 neighborhood concerts
• Over 15 participating bands
• $3,500 in project support
These events play an
important role in
strengthening community
connection, cultural
expression, and local
economic vitality.
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT COMMUNITY RECREATION:
• Continued planning for the future
Memorial Park Expansion Project, which
represents a significant opportunity to
enhance recreational amenities, expand
programming capacity, and better serve
the evolving needs of the community.
• Expanding Beach Recreation programming to further activate the coastline with inclusive, accessible, and diverse
recreational opportunities for residents
and visitors of all ages.
• Grow aquatics programming beyond
the Santa Monica Swim Center by
increasing utilization of the Annenberg
Community Beach House Pool and the
SAMOHI Pool, improving access and
program variety across multiple sites.
• Increasing access across all recreational facilities by balancing drop in use with organized permit use, ensuring
equitable availability while maximizing
community benefit.
• Continuing to expand camps, classes,
and community-based programming,
with a focus on new and innovative offerings that respond to evolving community interests and trends.
• Evaluating developing, and enhancing
services for special populations, including youth, teens, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, to ensure inclusive and
equitable recreation opportunities.
• Strengthening partnerships with schools,
community organizations, and program
providers to broaden reach, enhance
programming, and maximize use of
shared spaces.
• Enhancing community events and programming that activate parks and public spaces, fostering connection, vibrancy,
and a strong sense of place across Santa
Monica.
Looking Ahead
CULTURAL AFFAIRS:
• Continued improvements to grants,
artist support, and facility operations.
• Increased visibility of artists, cultural workers, and public art across Santa Monica. • The opening of the City’s first ever gallery
in Bergamot Station
• Increasing rentals at Miles Playhouse and
Bergamot
• Planning for the 2028 Cultural Olympiad
• Launching Digital Billboard arts program
• Cultural Affairs remains committed to
ensuring the arts play a central role in
shaping a resilient, inclusive, and creative future for all who live, work, or visit Santa Monica.
• Continued refining of systems, tools,
and coordination efforts to ensure
Santa Monica remains a welcoming,
well-managed place for memorable and
meaningful events.
ADMINISTRATION:
• Strengthening financial and operational systems to support long-term sustainability, transparency, and alignment with City priorities.
• Improving internal processes and
cross-division coordination to better
support programs, facilities, and
community-facing work.
• Enhancing procurement, contracting,
and policy workflows to increase
efficiency, clarity, and responsiveness.
• Advancing administrative practices
that support equity, accountability,
and responsible stewardship of public
resources.
• Building administrative capacity to support evolving departmental initiatives, partnerships, and community needs.
RAD will continue advancing a robust vision for community recreation, arts, culture and civic creativity grounded in access, equity, and community connection.
Administration
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Commissions and Boards Recreation and Parks Commission
The Recreation and Parks Commission is
a seven-member body appointed by the City
Council to advise the Council and staff on
matters related to public recreation, parks,
and open space. The Commission reviews
and makes recommendations on recreation
programming, park planning, and related
budgets, and helps promote community
recreation in coordination with public and
private partners. Advisory committees to the
Commission include the Field Sports Advisory Committee (FSAC) and the Santa Monica Aquatics Advisory Committee (SMAAC), which provide stakeholder input and recommendations on field sports, aquatics programs, facilities, and related operational issues.
Arts Commission & Arts Foundation
Together, the Arts Commission and Arts
Foundation help ensure a culturally vibrant,
equitable arts ecosystem in Santa Monica.
The Santa Monica Arts Commission is
composed of nine members appointed by
the City Council. The Commission provides
policy guidance, oversight, and support for
public art, funding programs, and citywide
cultural planning. Subcommittees include
Public Art and the Bergamot Ad Hoc.
The Santa Monica Arts Foundation is
a private nonprofit organization created to
promote the arts by raising funds from the
general public, which are used to support
City-sponsored art programs such as public
art, festivals, outreach programs, and art
exhibits. The Foundation frequently acts as a
501(c)(3) fiscal receiver for City departments,
other Santa Monica-based arts organizations,
and individual artists raising funds for public
art projects.
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT Administration
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT 2025 IMPACT REPORT Sofia Klatzer
Cultural Affairs Manager
Patricia Garza
Cultural Affairs Supervisor,
Facilities & Cultural
Programming
Lindsey Schoenholtz
Cultural Affairs Supervisor,
Grants
Natalie Marrero
Cultural Affairs Supervisor,
Cultural Programming
Naomi Okuyama
Cultural Affairs Supervisor
Public Arts
Jade Rodriguez
Staff Assistant III
Our Team
Jenny Rogers
Recreation and Arts Department Director
COMMUNITY RECREATION
Micah Akerson
Community Recreation
Manager
Joelle Simmons
Aquatics Program Manager
Danny Price
Principal Community Services
Supervisor
Eric Johnson
Principal Community Services
Supervisor
Anthony Pezzetti
Beach Recreation Supervisor
Heinz Davila
Aquatic Site Supervisor
Shadi Eghbali
Aquatic Site Supervisor
D’Ante Lock
Community Services Program
Supervisor
Jazzmyne Urquiza
Community Services Program
Supervisor
Noe Mendoza
Staff Assistant III
CULTURAL AFFAIRS
ADMINISTRATION
Colby Bakke
Executive Administrative
Assistant
Angela VonSlomski
Administrative Services
Officer
Jonathan Carr
Senior Administrative Analyst
Melissa Zak
Senior Administrative Analyst
Joanna Rubio
Staff Assistant III
Nan Friedman
Venue Manager
Heath Hamilton
Cultural Affairs Venue
Supervisor
Francis Palacio
Guest Services Coordinator
Annenberg Community Beach House
Community Events
Allison Ostrovsky
Recreation and Arts
Administrator
Rochelle Fabb
Event Coordinator
Community Events & Film
Permitting
Sara Reznick
Administrative Staff Assistant,
Community Events Permitting
CITY COUNCIL
Caroline Torosis
Mayor
Jesse Zwick
Mayor Pro Tem
Lana Negrete
Councilmember
Dan Hall
Councilmember
Ellis Raskin
Councilmember
Barry Snell
Councilmember
Natalya Zernitskaya
Councilmember
CITY MANAGER OFFICE
Oliver Chi
City Manager
Susan Cline
Assistant City Manager
Peter James
Deputy City Manager
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34 CITY OF SANTA MONICA RECREATION & ARTS DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY RECREATION DIVISION
(310) 458-8300
[email protected]
CULTURAL AFFAIRS DIVISION
(310) 458-8350
[email protected]
COMMUNITY EVENTS
(310) 458-8300
[email protected]
RECREATION AND ARTS DEPARTMENT
(310) 458-8573
[email protected]
www.santamonica.gov/departments/recreation-and-arts
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