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Thank you for being patient with us—changes and updates are coming!  For the most accurate and up-to-date info, please follow us on Instagram, the418project, and thanks for hanging in there!

And of Course, Watch This Space…

Welcome to Santa Cruz’s Place For All to Move & Be Moved

Since 1993, The 418 Project has provided affordable, accessible programming-a home where artists and entrepreneurs can grow their gifts centered around Community, Mindfulness, Art, and Embodiment.

In our new permanent home, we have awakened to the needs around contributing to social justice. We are committed to making a significant difference and we are humbly aiming to create equitable outcomes that benefit all people.

What does this mean?  Santa Cruz is in the midst of social and economic change. When redevelopment happens, BIPOC people, women, artists, and teachers are disproportionately affected. The 418 Project’s new permanent facility located centrally and in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz, right on the San Lorenzo River, will serve thousands, especially our marginalized communities, becoming a welcoming home to new and continuing arts businesses. These locally imagined offerings enrich everyone’s lives, creating a healthier, more connected community.

Think globally, support locally! If you have the resources, it’s a great time to support a place that will make a difference, now and for generations to come.

Our Mission & Vision

Mission: The 418 Project builds diverse and equitable community in Santa Cruz and beyond by fostering physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being in an atmosphere centered upon collaboration and creative expression through dance and movement art.

Vision: We envision a world where everyone has access to a safe environment supporting the unification of body and spirit, becoming more connected to their true selves and their community.

Our Commitment to Racial Equity

• We openly support equity and we oppose any and all white supremacist ideologies, practices, and organizations, as we firmly believe that the arts are a right to any and all peoples. • The 418 Project is committed to providing an environment free of harassment, discrimination, retaliation and disrespectful or other otherwise unprofessional conduct targeted at our community members for any reason, including race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), and national origin.

• We are committed to closing the racial gap in the performing arts by providing universal and affordable access to our event and performance spaces for our community.

• We aim to continue to bring the voices of more people of color into our space, in creative capacities, and through accountability practices. • We understand that universal access to a performance space alone is not sufficient when trying to support our performing arts communities, and thus aim to provide and facilitate a diverse range of classes led by more people of color and of a greater range of diverse cultural backgrounds. • We aim to investigate ways to develop and facilitate various other forms of art, performances, classes, and events both independently and in collaboration with our
communities of color.

• We understand that it’s not enough to be “not racist” but instead must participate in actively dismantling racism and white supremacy.

• With equity in mind, we aim to provide resources outside of performance spaces for our teachers, creators, and performers as requested, as well as needed.