Established by the pioneering modernist poet and painter Jeanne D’Orge (Mrs. Carl Cherry), the mission of the Cherry Center is to enhance the quality and diversity of artistic, educational and cultural programs in Monterey County by encouraging public programs and interactions between artists and the community. The Cherry Center theater and art gallery provide visibility and support to emerging artists.
The Carl Cherry Center is a Big Idea!! The venerable Carmel arts center is more than an institution; it's the beating heart of our community. Just the awareness and assurance the Cherry Center has been in existence for seventy-seven years is good for our spiritual health, even if we only set foot through its doors once a year. The Cherry has offered a sanctuary of creativity, inspiring countless individuals and enriching our lives. Each year, thousands of visitors find solace, inspiration, and connection within its walls. From world-class exhibitions showcasing local and international talent to dynamic workshops fostering artistic growth, the Cherry Center is a catalyst for cultural transformation. It's a place where art ignites dialogue, challenges perspectives, and builds bridges between artists and the community. By supporting the Cherry Center, you invest in the soul of our community—you invest in a big idea.
The Carl Cherry Center benefits Monterey County because we impact all areas of the Central Coast. From Monterey to Big Sur, Castroville, Salinas and King City. Programs such as a Cell Phone Film Festival, Solo Performance Programs and the High School Poetry Awards, reach across broad swaths of the county, age groups and ethnic populations. The Cherry Center is good for the community because of the unrivaled equanimity and insight art can bring into our turbulent lives. And it’s good to have an arts center that has presented programs, art exhibitions, plays, workshops and readings that support creative expression on the Central Coast.
Thank you!! I can't tell you how much the Monterey County Poetry Awards impacted me! The classes and teaching were not just about learning metaphors of verse. The opportunity was also about finding the courage to read, create and find a voice!.,,In all their honest, challenging and powerful forms!! The teacher encouraged us look at were we'd not been before --- and that's what we did and found our "voice." The program gave me confidence. It taught me how to give and receive constructive feedback, how to stand in front of a room and own my words, and how to connect with people on a deeper level. Seeing my poem published in our end-of-year anthology was a moment of pride I will carry with me forever. The awards doesn't just create poets--it builds confident, empathetic, and articulate writers.
- Norah Bautisa, Salinas
