2026 Community Meeting Summary

Santa Cruz Art League | January 25, 2026

SCAL Manager Betsy Behan, Board Chair Terri Steinmann, and Board Treasurer Mindi Lawrence, met with community members representing a broad range of artistic disciplines and arts administration experience. The purpose of the meeting was to share organizational updates, listen to community feedback, and identify opportunities to better serve artists and the public.

Reflections on 2025 and Organizational Wins

Terri shared and acknowledged several meaningful accomplishments over the past year in order to inform and update those in attendance. These included long-deferred electrical upgrades made possible by a $20,000 donation from Ruth Bates, upcoming classroom lighting improvements designed in collaboration with instructors, and the stabilization provided by consistent on-site leadership. Other wins included restructuring the Board, setting a budget that is less reliant on grants, launching new membership benefits and the upcoming implementation of membership tier shifts, and reintroducing life drawing after its pause in 2018.

The passing of Dick Bennett was noted as a significant loss to the community. Attendees expressed interest in honoring his legacy through a memorial fund which Terri is seeding and leading, as well as a future fundraising art sale that reflects his artistic genre and influence. The April 12 date of Richard Bennett’s Celebration of Life and fundraising art sale was shared with the group.

Membership, Outreach, and Sustainability

A central theme of the discussion was the importance of growing and diversifying SCAL’s membership. Community members emphasized prioritizing outreach to people of all ages, improving visibility, and more clearly communicating the tangible value of membership. Feedback included interest in subsidized or introductory memberships at outreach events, integrating membership options into class and exhibition checkout processes, and sharing clear financial comparisons that demonstrate how membership reduces overall costs for participating artists.

The move toward a subscription-based membership model and the consolidation of student and senior tiers into the Ageless Arts Membership were generally viewed as positive steps. Attendees also highlighted the importance of regularly communicating accomplishments, donor impact, and gratitude through newsletters and social media to reinforce trust and transparency.

Programming, Exhibitions, and Artistic Expansion

There was strong enthusiasm for expanding SCAL’s programming and exhibitions to include a broader range of media and formats. Suggestions included applied arts, photography, printmaking, digital and temporary art, pop-up exhibitions, and short-form or experimental classes. Participants expressed interest in multi-location or time-sensitive exhibitions that create urgency and encourage repeat visits, as well as opportunities for collaboration with student artists and regional organizations. Several attendees noted the potential for deeper partnerships with groups such as CODA, printmakers, UCSC, and other arts organizations to share audiences, instructors, and resources.

Visibility, Marketing, and Community Presence

Participants emphasized increasing SCAL’s visibility throughout Santa Cruz through stronger signage, banners, flyers, and volunteer-supported outreach. Ideas included posting class flyers at bus stops, holding pop-up markets, and highlighting local artisans to better connect Santa Cruz residents with local creative culture.

There was also interest in using newsletters to share “a day in the life” features of SCAL staff and provide clearer insight into operations and impact.

Governance, Board Engagement, and Metrics

Community members encouraged greater Board involvement as connectors between SCAL and the broader community. Suggestions included assigning Board liaisons to exhibitions or initiatives, sharing responsibility for outreach, and establishing clearer success metrics for exhibitions and programs (both financial and engagement-based) to help artists and members better understand impact.

Photography Community Follow-Up

As a direct follow-up to feedback shared during the meeting, SCAL Manager Betsy Behan is actively addressing concerns raised by Bob Maher regarding feelings of alienation among photographers and CODA members. (Betsy Behan is currently in direct communication with Bob Maher and will attend the CODA meeting on February 4.) The goal of this outreach is to rebuild trust and explore pathways to bring CODA photographers back to exhibiting at SCAL in 2027, contingent on aligning exhibition opportunities with CODA’s pricing and participation needs.

Action Items & Next Steps

Membership & Outreach

● Develop clearer messaging that demonstrates the financial and experiential value of SCAL membership

● Integrate membership purchase options into class registration and exhibition submission checkout flows

● Explore subsidized or introductory memberships at outreach events (e.g., UCSC Cornucopia)

● Continue prioritizing outreach to new and diverse audiences across age groups

Programming & Exhibitions

● Explore expansion into applied arts, photography, printmaking, digital, and temporary art

● Investigate pop-up exhibitions and time-limited programming to create urgency

● Consider potentially including student work in Dick Bennett’s memorial exhibition

● Explore collaborative or multi-location exhibition concepts

Partnerships & Community Relations

● Continue active outreach to CODA and the photography community, including attending the February 4 CODA meeting

● Explore partnerships with UCSC, local arts organizations, and downtown artisan communities

● Identify opportunities for shared teaching, exhibitions, or resource use Marketing & Visibility

● Assess feasibility of banners, improved signage, and expanded flyer distribution

● Explore volunteer-supported street outreach and promotional efforts

● Use newsletters and social media to highlight accomplishments, donor impact, and staff profiles

Governance & Metrics

● Identify Board members to serve as community and exhibition liaisons

● Increase Board involvement in exhibition structure and strategic outreach

● Develop clearer success metrics for exhibitions and programs (attendance, revenue, engagement)