CommonGround is a new biennial festival of place-inspired, outdoor work hosted in locations throughout Santa Cruz County, from downtown plazas and nearby waterways to forested hillsides and local landmarks.
Focused on temporary and performative public art projects in rural, urban, and architectural space, the 10-day event features site-responsive installations and interventions across the area’s natural and built environments, connecting people, stories, and landscapes.
CommonGround is a mostly FREE event. While the majority of works can be visited at no cost, some festival performances are ticketed and there is a small admission fee to the MAH to view supporting exhibitions and installations.
For more information, visit the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.
Venues & Locations
Abbott Square and Museum of Art & History (MAH)
725 and 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
A public plaza next to a three-floor museum in downtown.
Davenport Jail
70 Center Street, Davenport
A decommissioned jailhouse and historic landmark built in 1914.
Evergreen Cemetery
261 Evergreen Street, Santa Cruz
A historic site and one of the state’s first cemeteries founded in 1858.
Farmers' Markets
Downtown Santa Cruz: 700-798 Cedar Street
Watsonville: Peack and Union Street
Live Oak: 21511 E Cliff Drive
Soquel Creek
124 Cliff Drive, Capitola
A coastal stream that flows into Monterey Bay, near Capitol Beach.
Wagner Grove
261 Evergreen Street, Santa Cruz
A redwood clearing located in Harvey West Park, near the cemetery.
