The Sesnon Gallery’s project, Emerging Artists and Cultural Stewards, needs your help to raise $5,000 in funds.
Your contributions support paid student internships, a growing microgrant program for emerging artists, and student-curated exhibitions in the Sesnon Underground. With gifts from Giving Day 2021, we were able to grant funding to seven student artists and organizations to support their creative endeavors, which included a multimedia art exhibition by students of diverse and mixed cultural backgrounds, and installing a mural at Porter College. Help us double our impact this year!
Hands-on gallery experience for tomorrow’s cultural stewards
Student interns assist with professional art exhibitions by world-class contemporary artists, including works by Kara Walker, Andy Warhol, Ai Wei Wei, and Carlos Motta. Interns participate in all aspects of exhibition installation, receiving direct experience with curatorial practices and art collections management, preparing them for future careers in cultural stewardship. We only offer paid student internships for equitable access to this educational experience.
Show up for emerging artists!
The Sesnon Underground gallery is not only a venue for artists to present their work, but a growing community resource and gathering place for students. The Underground routinely organizes open calls for zines, artmaking workshops, and film festivals that bring emerging artists from across campus together. Our growing microgrant program relieves some of the financial burden of the cost to produce quality art exhibitions and events.
I’ve used these applications in film production classes, however I’ve always been limited to using them on school devices. The artist microgrant allowed me to purchase tools to advance my digital video and sound art, uninhibited.
-Edie T., Cowell College ‘22
I’m very grateful for the microgrant provided by the Sesnon Underground to assist in setting up of my first solo show, Social Ills. The microgrant was a wonderful relief. I was able to provide the attendees with COVID-safe refreshments, afford materials for an attendee activity, and gas for transporting various works.
-Zoë H. L., Porter College ‘23
Multi-Ethnic Cultural Student Association (MECSA) is a student-run organization that supports students of diverse and mixed cultural backgrounds at UCSC. The microgrant supported our exhibition, My Identity Journey, where artists explored their community, location, heritage, race, gender and sexuality. The microgrant was the first financial contribution the Multi-Ethnic Cultural Student Association has received since it was founded in December 2021. Since we are a new organization we are working to recruit and retain students of diverse backgrounds. The Sesnon Gallery’s contribution goes a long way in helping us start an organization in a way that represents our values.
Thank you for your support!
-MECSA Leadership Team
Can our students count on your support? Give to the Sesnon Gallery’s project, “Emerging Artists and Cultural Workers,” on November 2nd!
