Upcoming Events
9th Annual "For the Birds" Exhibit
Art Center Morro Bay proudly presents our 9th annual “For the Birds” exhibit. This exhibit is held in conjunction with the Morro Bay Annual Bird Festival, a yearly event promoting an understanding and appreciation of birds and other wildlife, and an awareness of environmental and conservation issues of the Central Coast. Birders from all over the United States come together to experience our wonderful and diversified ecosystem on the West Coast of California. Artists have been asked to share their artistic talents with the many visitors attending the festival through art that celebrates the varieties of birds and other wildlife, and their habitats, in our area.
SLO Rep Presents Twelfth Night
This charming and witty Shakespearean comedy will be brought to life by an ensemble of talented local students, offering a fresh and vibrant interpretation of one of the Bard’s most beloved works. Set in the fantastical land of Illyria, Twelfth Night tells the story of Viola, a young woman shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother, who disguises herself as a man and enters the service of Duke Orsino. What follows is a whirlwind of mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and hilarious misunderstandings that culminate in an uproarious celebration of love, folly, and the chaos of life.
Art For Paws
Studios on the Park and Woods Humane Society have partnered up to host “Art For Paws,” a free community event that will include pet caricatures by local artist Savannah Reifers (free with a donation to Woods), a dog-toy making station, samples from Ziggy’s plant-based eatery, refreshing cider from Tin City Cider, and an opportunity to enter to win a custom pet portrait by Savannah Reifers, with proceeds benefiting two beloved community nonprofits: Woods Humane Society and Studios on the Park.
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival
Get ready for a night of adventure, breathtaking films, and giving back! Join us for the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, CA, January 24-25, 2025. Ticket sales benefit the SLO Land Conservancy and the SLO Botanical Gardens.
SLO County Poet Laureate Inaugural Reading
SLO County Arts invited you to celebrate the incoming San Luis Obispo County Poet Laureate, Caleb Nichols, with an inaugural reading on Friday, January 24th at the Octagon Barn in San Luis Obispo.
Reading alongside Caleb will be outgoing SLO County Poet Laureate Kevin Clark, California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, and Cal Poly professor and poet MT Vallarta. Join us in highlighting and celebrating the work of poets residing in the state and county and the relaunch of the Poet Laureate program here in SLO County.
This event is free and open to all!
Art After Dark
Art After Dark is the FREE event where art, culture, and community come to life!
SLO Rep Presents Million Dollar Quartet
This electrifying musical, based on the legendary true story of one of the greatest rock-and-roll gatherings in history, will take audiences back to December 4, 1956, when four of the most iconic figures in music—Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins—came together for one unforgettable night at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
SLO County Poetry Out Loud Competition
Join us at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art to support high school students across SLO County as they compete in the Poetry Out Loud recitation competition! The winning student will go on to Sacramento to represent SLO County in the California Poetry Out Loud Finals.
Opening Reception for "River" at Cruise Control Contemporary
Cruise Control Contemporary (CCC) is delighted to showcase River, a debut solo exhibition of new work by Big Sur-based artist, Abigail Smith. While residing in a tiny mountain cabin, Smith’s new oil painting series depicts the region's freshwater streams. These eight small-scale works offer a unique intimacy, both for the creator and the viewer. The scale compels an intentional proximity, drawing the viewer in to engage closely with the details and textures of the surface. This closeness fosters a sense of contemplation and encourages a slower, more deliberate pace of intake. Each brushstroke carries weight, every compositional choice becomes essential, and every inch of the painting is imbued with significance.
SLO Master Chorale presents "Holiday Festival"
Join with the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale to perform the great choruses from Handel's ever-popular masterpiece, Messiah. Thomas Davies conducts as the audience is invited to sing various choruses from Handel’s masterwork, as well as a few well-known carols. The SLO Master Chorale will perform a variety of beautiful seasonal works and will be joined by guest artist Amy Goymerac, Los Angeles’s Westwood Brass, and Paul Woodring on the tremendous Forbes Pipe Organ. It's a family tradition!
SloDrawz Figure Drawing Group
Stop by Art Central on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for a figure drawing group run by local artist Spencer Poulter!
First Saturday: Handcrafted for the Holidays
Join Studios on the Park for First Saturdays, a fun tradition of art, wine, and music! Their Handcrafted for the Holidays exhibition will still be up, so get started on your holiday shopping by browsing for unique gifts from over 20 local artists!
Casa Ramos Art Gallery Grand Opening
Celebrate the new location for John Ramos Fine Art! Also featuring works by Jonny Miller, Philip Lopez, and more. Wine and refreshments will be available - stop by to check out the new space and meet the artists.
A Christmas Story at SLO Rep Theatre
San Luis Obispo’s Holiday Tradition Since 2014!
Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself, at Higbee’s Department Store. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Bring the whole family to A Christmas Story for a heartwarming, funny, nostalgic holiday treat!
SloDrawz Figure Drawing Group
Stop by Art Central on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for a figure drawing group run by local artist Spencer Poulter!
Poetry Night at the Los Osos Library
This in person poetry night will feature poet and editor Marsha de la O from Ventura! Her most recent book is Creature, which she shared on the poetry stage at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC in April. Other books by Marsha include Antidote for Night and Every Ravening Thing. The last time she joined us was in July 2019.
There will be an open reading following the reading by Marsha de la O. The evening’s theme is “Passages,” but no one need feel bound by it.
Masks will be available for all who would feel more comfortable wearing one.
SloDrawz Figure Drawing Group
Stop by Art Central on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for a figure drawing group run by local artist Spencer Poulter!
Annual Winter Faire & Juried Craft Show 2024
This very special holiday event offers a collection of exceptional paintings, photography and fine crafts, spanning a variety of artistic mediums from traditional to contemporary. Crafts include fiber, wood, glass, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and more.
Poetry and Prose Reading
Come join us and enjoy an afternoon of literary arts along with fine guitar music – on Sunday, November 3rd, between 2 and 4 PM at the Octagon Barn Center off South Higuera Street at the southern edge of San Luis Obispo. The event is free.
Handcrafted for the Holidays Opening Reception
Celebrate the opening of Studios on the Park’s holiday gift exhibition, Handcrafted for the Holidays! Get started on your holiday shopping by browsing for unique gifts from over 20 local artists, while enjoying music by Loren Radis and delicious wine from Tribeca Wine Co!
Art After Dark
Join us for First Fridays in San Luis Obispo County! Experience visual, literary and performing art in galleries and other participating venues.
Visit slocountyarts.org/art-after-dark to see who’s participating this month!
Handcrafted for the Holidays Exhibit
Studios on the Park announces the return of their annual holiday market in November and December: "Handcrafted for the Holidays", a two-month long exhibition featuring gifts made by over 25 local artists.
SloDrawz Figure Drawing Group
Stop by Art Central on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for a figure drawing group run by local artist Spencer Poulter!
Art Talk Series: Marcie Begleiter
Join us for the next lecture in the free Art Talk Series presented by SLO County Arts and the City of SLO’s Public Art Program!
Marcie Begleiter is a California-based artist working with large photographic installations depicting possible futures of currently stressed bio-systems. “Chimera: The Future of Nature”, her current series, explores objects that are assembled from nature but not of it. This artist talk will focus on work created with materials from Estero Bay, Coastal Mexico and Banff, Canada. Echoes of Voynich : Coded Systems, a group exhibit that Begleiter curated and has work in, is at Wönzimer Gallery in LA through October 18th. She will also feature installation shots and talk about the curatorial journey of bringing this show to light.
This event is taking place at the SLO Public Library Community Room from 6pm to 7:30pm.
Jamil Hellu: Face to Face
A solo exhibition of photography and sculpture by Jamil Hellu featuring themes of identity fluidity, cultural heritage, and queer representation. Born in Brazil and of Syrian descent, Hellu’s multicultural background informs his practice, fostering empathy and dialogue, while advocating for greater inclusivity and understanding. Hellu holds an MFA from Stanford University and a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and is currently a Photography Lectuer in the Department of Art and Art History at Stanford. His work has been discussed in The New York Times, The Guardian, Artforum, and VICE.
Open Studios Art Tour Weekend 2
The San Luis Obispo County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of SLO County Arts Council, takes place each year over two weekends in October, National Arts and Humanities Month. Free to the public, fine artists and crafters open their studios to showcase their art and share their processes. Visitors create their own self-guided tours using the catalog.
SloDrawz Figure Drawing Group
Stop by Art Central on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for a figure drawing group run by local artist Spencer Poulter!
Demo Day: Jason Mayr
The Morro Bay Art Center is proud to present Jason Mayr on October 14th from 3 to 5 PM. This event is free and open to the public. Jason Mayr will do a live oil painting demonstration and discuss his craft.
Open Studios Art Tour Weekend 1
The San Luis Obispo County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of SLO County Arts Council, takes place each year over two weekends in October, National Arts and Humanities Month. Free to the public, fine artists and crafters open their studios to showcase their art and share their processes. Visitors create their own self-guided tours using the catalog.
SLO Rep Presents: Misery
True life becomes stranger than fiction when an acclaimed romance novelist wakes up in the home of his “Number One Fan.” Rescued from a wintery car crash, Paul Sheldon finds himself incapacitated in the secluded home of Annie Wilkes, a seemingly kind nurse. When events take a nightmarish turn, the injured Paul realizes the unhinged Annie has no intention of letting him leave. This spine-tingling stage adaptation traps you in the room with Paul as he must outsmart Annie if he hopes to escape. Based on Stephen King’s best-selling novel, the tense cat-and-mouse game will grip you until the very end.
Art After Dark
Join us for First Fridays in San Luis Obispo County! Experience visual, literary and performing art in galleries and other participating venues.
Visit slocountyarts.org/art-after-dark to see who’s participating this month!
Open Studios Art Tour Preview Show
SAVE THE DATE! The Open Studios Art Tour Preview Show of participating artists' work will be taking place in October at EDNA Contemporary Gallery at 967 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo. The Opening Reception will be held during Art After Dark on October 4th from 5pm to 9pm. Come by for light bites, drinks, music, and art. Plus, enter the raffle to win a free guided wine and art tour in North County complete with a $100 tasting stipend!
SloDrawz Figure Drawing Group
Stop by Art Central on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for a figure drawing group run by local artist Spencer Poulter!
Sip 'n' Paint with Margaret Biggs
Join us at Studios on the Park for an evening of wine and art! Cambria-based Open Studios Art Tour artist Margaret Biggs is leading this workshop based around the theme of landscapes.
Margaret Biggs is a painter whose use of line, color and form communicates the healing and strength she finds in nature. She artistically converts her experiences to inspire others in their search for inner peace. Her imagery has been popular in the Evidence-Based Healing Arts Movement and can be found in medical facilities, hotels and businesses nationwide.
Relax, unwind, and let your creativity flow as you enjoy a complimentary glass of delicious wine (with additional glasses available for purchase).
More information and sign up link here. Space is limited to just 8 students - sign up fast to ensure your spot!
Art Talk Series: Michael Costa
Join us for a free lecture with artist Michael Costa!
Photojournalist Michael J. Costa’s greatest pleasure is capturing a subject and bringing it to life. He passionately seeks the story within every subject and reflects compelling emotions through his camera’s lens, whether portraits, street scenes, foreign panoramas, or nature up close. His video and multi-media projects demonstrate his love for visual imagery and storytelling. Michael’s positive approach to life and his belief in the beauty of daily lives is mirrored in his photography.
This series is brought to you by SLO County Arts and the City of SLO's Public Art Program.
SloDrawz Figure Drawing Group
Stop by Art Central on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for a figure drawing group run by local artist Spencer Poulter!
Art After Dark
Join us for First Fridays in San Luis Obispo County! Experience visual, literary and performing art in galleries and other participating venues.
Visit slocountyarts.org/art-after-dark to see who’s participating this month!
SLO County Arts and Culture Market
SLO County Arts is hosting a special Arts and Culture Market on September 5th during the Downtown San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market!
Join us as we line Broad Street with local artists and arts organizations! View works by painters, jewelry artists, and potters on this year’s Open Studios Art Tour. Learn about upcoming programming and events in the visual and performing arts across SLO County. View a wheel throwing demonstration and get inspired to create at our craft station.
This event is free and family friendly!