SLO County Arts

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from SLO County Arts, Arts and entertainment, PO Box 12810, San Luis Obispo, CA.

The San Luis Obispo County Arts Council empowers artists by providing the resources, advocacy, and networks they need to succeed while connecting cultural institutions to create a dynamic, supportive arts landscape. The San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, as the local partner of the California Arts Council, advances the visual, literary and performing arts through programs that promote public access to the arts, arts in educational settings, local arts planning and collaboration, and opportunities for artists and arts organizations.

09/13/2026

Multi-talented Elizabeth Johnson is the next featured speaker! Join us on Wednesday, September 16 at the SLO Public Library Room, 995 Palm Street. More info can be found at slocountyarts.org/art-talks.

08/17/2026

The Rooted in Art Lecture Series returns!
Join us from 6-7:30pm on Wednesday, August 19 at the SLO Library Community Room for "Cross Pollination" with Timo Beckwith.
Timo will explore how themes of time, form, and the natural world shape his creative practice.

SLO County Arts and the City of SLO Public Art Program host these free lectures from artists, art educators, and curators who share experiences and stories from the creative field. Visit slocountyarts.org/art-talks for more info.

08/05/2026

THIS FRIDAY! Art After Dark returns August 7th from 5pm to 8pm across San Luis Obispo. Get out and enjoy fresh exhibitions, live music, discover a new artistic medium, meet local artists, and maybe even enjoy some snacks and refreshments along the way.

Head to slocountyarts.art-after-dark-slo to view the full list of venues participating in August and decide which stops you can’t miss. Browse the digital map or download the PDF version to plan your route.

The featured art in this month’s graphic is by Central Coast Wines’ featured artist, Mallory Harris. Mallory’s primary mediums are ink and watercolor and her art explores the intersection of figurative painting, abstraction, and narrative illustration.

Visit San Luis Obispo Downtown San Luis Obispo, CA City of San Luis Obispo SLO Chamber of Commerce

08/04/2026

SLO County Arts is searching for our next Executive Director!

Details: Full time or reduced schedule depending on candidate fit, compensation commensurate with experience and schedule. Lead programs, fundraising, and community advocacy for the county’s arts council. Management experience required, preferably in a non-profit environment.

Review the full job description and learn how to apply at slocountyarts.org/staff.

07/01/2026

Get your holiday weekend off to a creative start with Art After Dark this Friday! On July 3rd from 5pm to 8pm you can experience live music, new exhibitions, live demonstrations, and enjoy some refreshments along the way.

Visit slocountyarts.org/art-after-dark-slo to view the full list of venues participating in July and read about what art they’ll be featuring. Browse the digital map or download the PDF version to plan where your unique evening of art and culture will take you!

The featured art in this month’s graphic is from EDNA Contemporary Gallery, whose is presenting Red, White, and Sparkle! Come see flag art by Scott McMillan and new artwork by Sheryl Daane Chesnut; with a metallic background, her work literally sparkles on the canvas. The gallery will also have popcorn, lemonade, and other beverages to celebrate the Fourth of July.

The artwork in the final slide is by Central Coast Wines’ featured artist, Nick Watry. In addition to the art, this local wine shop will be serving up Happy Hour glasses for Art After Dark!

Visit San Luis Obispo Downtown San Luis Obispo, CA City of San Luis Obispo SLO Chamber of Commerce

06/23/2026

We were proud to honor the three 2026 Blank Canvas Arts Grant recipients at a community reception on May 20th. Nearly 150 people packed the room at Region Event Center in San Luis Obispo, High Camp Wines of Paso Robles kept the glasses full, and the energy was high.

It was so good to see so many familiar faces, and a lot of new ones, too. Many of the people in that room have been a part of this arts community actively since the 80s and 90s, and there’s something really special about that kind of history showing up in one place and connecting across generations.

The best part of the evening was the artist Q&A. Charlie is an oil painted stepping into sculpture for the first time, and this grant is supporting him to do so. Owen is connecting his pop-up collaborative painting project, where he invites strangers across the county to paint alongside him in spontaneous locations, to his studies in City and Regional Planning at Cal Poly. And Caleb spoke to the constant effort of producing literary art events for the community, and requested that people continue to show up. (Follow SLO Book Bike to stay up-to-date with literary arts events!)

Evenings like this are why we do this work. Thank you to everyone who came out, and a huge thank you to Elizabeth Lamont Johnson, whose generosity made this grant possible.

Learn more about the grant and the awarded projects at slocountyarts.org/blank-canvas-arts-grant and reach out to us at [email protected] to inquire about how you can get involved!

Photos by Summer Truschke and Fred Schumacher

06/02/2026

This Friday, June 5th Art After Dark is back from 5pm to 8pm! There are 23 venues across San Luis Obispo where you can explore new exhibitions, drink specials, live music, and more!

Visit slocountyarts.org/art-after-dark-slo to view the full list of venues participating in June and read about what art they’ll be featuring. Browse the digital map or download the PDF version to plan where your unique evening of art and culture will take you!

The featured art in this month’s graphic is by Olivia Stevens, a Cal Poly student whose first solo show will be at Mee Heng Low Noodle House during Art After Dark.

05/29/2026

Heads up SLO County artists! You have just ONE WEEK LEFT to apply for the 2026 Open Studios Art Tour!

Perks of joining the tour include:
🎨 Up to 2 weeks to showcase and sell your work and services while keeping 100% commission.
🎨 Gain exposure, increased visibility, and build relationships with the public, other artists, and collectors.
🎨 Your image and information is listed in the official tour catalog, with 5,000 copies printed and distributed across the region.
🎨 Help educate the public about the value of your artwork and what time, training, tools, and equipment go into producing quality original artwork!

Learn more about the tour and get your application in before the June 5th deadline at slocountyarts.org/osat.

📷: Inside the studio of 2025 Open Studios Art Tour participant Colleen Gnos.

05/26/2026

Central Coast Artists — there’s just one week left to get your application in for the 2026-2027 Individual Artists Fellowship! Don’t miss out on this opportunity for unrestricted funding.

Learn more and get your application ready at slocountyarts.org/iaf. Applications close on Monday, June 1st at 5pm!

05/14/2026

Blank Canvas Arts Grantee Spotlight: Owen Blackwell, “superposition”

Three paintings on found canvases (24"x30") built around geometric forms (gridiron, concentric circles, convergent polygons). Blackwell sets up in public spaces — grocery parking lots, trailheads, parks — with paint and brushes available for passerby to contribute. Locations unannounced. Process photographed throughout. Paintings sanded to reveal layers. Final exhibition at Art After Dark, December 2026.

The Blank Canvas Arts Grant, administered by SLO County Arts, supports experimental, contemporary projects by emerging and mid-career artists in SLO County. Learn more at slocountyarts.org/blank-canvas-arts-grant.

Address

PO Box 12810
San Luis Obispo, CA
93406

Telephone

+18055449251

Website

https://slocountyarts.org/, https://linktr.ee/slocounty_arts

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