ARTS HABITAT Information

Arts Habitat is a non-profit organization established in 1991 and dedicated to the creation of an affordable, vibrant arts community at East Garrison in Monterey County. This new arts destination point will bring artists of all disciplines together. Its location on the outskirts of Salinas makes it easily accessible from the Monterey Peninsula, from all points south in the Salinas Valley, and north to San Jose. The new town of East Garrison will be a cultural bridge between Monterey's coastal communities and the Salinas Valley. Its proximity to CSUMB and the new residential areas in Seaside and Marina make it a convenient and accessible site for artists and participants in arts activities in the larger community, as well as for East Garrison residents. East Garrison and its arts district will grow to become a world-class arts village nurturing diverse artistic expression, showcasing the talents of Monterey County artists, generating income for artists and bringing tourist and arts patronage dollars into our county. When Fort Ord was named on the first round of base closures in 1991, a group of local artists, recognizing a great need for affordable creative space, petitioned the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to include an arts district or arts community in the reuse program for the former military fort. This 'arts habitat' would be designed to meet artists' needs for stable living and working space and, at the same time, contribute to the fort's economic redevelopment. The concept won powerful support from public policy makers such as County Supervisors Sam Karas and Edith Johnsen, and Congressman Sam Farr. In a 1995 letter to Arts Habitat, Mr. Farr stated, "Our tri-county area is rich with talent in all realms of the arts. By the same token, our area has long experienced a crisis in the artists community for affordable living and studio spaces. It is critical, even as we become an increasingly technical society, that we preserve the beauty and vitality of the arts. Arts Habitat allows for that ...