Santa Monica Launches 'Art Of Recovery' Program Amid Pandemic

SANTA MONICA, CA — The city of Santa Monica is launching an "Art of Recovery" program with a display of larger-than-life sculptures by Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) this weekend.

Artists are facing unique challenges in the pandemic, and the program aims to help artists at this uncertain time.

Soltero's statues of the iconic holiday figure La Catrina will be featured from Saturday through Monday at the Santa Monica Pier, city officials said.

Local artists have also been at work transforming concrete safety dividers into murals lining Main Street's dining and retail area.

Other projects across the city are expected to be announced and unveiled on a rolling basis.

"The arts have the power to transform our city and communities during these uncertain times," said Shannon Daut, the city's manager of cultural affairs. "Artists and creatives can develop solutions that are inventive, compelling and engaging, and we want to provide them with the space, flexibility and support as we work together as a community to safely reopen and rebuild."

The grant program — inspired by the mid-1930s-era Federal Art Project — puts artists to work to implement projects that will strengthen and connect the city, she said.

All Los Angeles County-based artist collectives and artists are eligible to apply for the program, along with businesses and nonprofits with an official address within Santa Monica city limits.

Proposals for "Art of Recovery" must adhere to the county's public health safety guidelines in place at the time of the application.

More information about the program is available at santamonica.gov/arts/artofrecovery.

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.

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