In May 2023, The City of San José Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (“OEDCA”) was awarded a $30,000 grant by the National Endowment of the Arts (“NEA”) under the Grants for Arts Projects. The forward-going grant will continue to support the Creative License Ambassador Program by partially funding the 2024 Creative Ambassadors.

Creative License Ambassador Program

Instituted in 2018 under the San José Creates and Connects Initiative, the Creative License Ambassador Program connects residents to art and culture by creating participatory art projects throughout San José’s interconnected, multicultural communities. The projects are led by Creative Ambassadors from diverse artistic backgrounds and are funded by grants from NEA and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. According to the OEDCA, “The role of the Creative Ambassadors is to champion the power of creative expression and engage residents in finding their own creative voice.”

Above: Creative License Ambassador Suhita Shirodkar during her Drawing to Discover sketch walks, her Creative Expression project

The 2023 recipients include Yoon C. Han, Elba Raquel and Together We Create (“TWC”), Betrand Patron Paule and SJ Storyboard, and Suhita Shirodkar. These community-focused artists have demonstrated a dedication to the arts and commitment to the many cultures of San José and were chosen through a competitive process. Their work spans various disciplines, from interaction design, live painting, and immersive storytelling to reportage, and they will each serve in residency for one year creating art projects that encourage community participation and celebrate our city’s many cultures. The program fosters cultural understanding by focusing on community engagement and participation. Ron Muriera, Arts Industry Support Director for the OEDCA shared that “Creative ambassadors reflect the community and help educate the community about cultural affairs.”

A new and exciting aspect of the group this year, he pointed out, is that this is the first year the city has had Creative Ambassadors representing artist collectives like TWC and SJ Storyboard. What Ron feels makes the program shine is “the passion that the Creative Ambassadors have” and that through this program “they have the opportunity to show that arts and culture is an integral part of our lives.”

Questions About the Creative License Ambassador Program

For questions or more information about the program please visit the OEDCA website or contact Danielle Siembieda, Sr. Arts Industry Support Manager, at danielle.Siembieda@sanjoseca.gov or 408-793-4332.