Established by the poet and painter Jeanne D’Orge, the mission of the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts 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. Accordingly, the Cherry Center provides visibility and support to artists, dramatists, writers, educators and musicians.
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-six 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.
I write today to express my heartfelt gratitude to you and the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts for the tremendous positive impact that you and your organization have had on my art students and myself for the past eight years, since I have been teaching high school Fine Art and Digital Art in Monterey. Your annual contest and show, titled “Thinking Out Loud: High School Art Exhibition” is such an incredible gift to our community. It is the show we look forward to the most each year, for many different reasons: The art exhibition always looks incredibly beautiful, entirely professional and is most tastefully hung: I appreciate the time and thought that you put into arranging each unique collection of artwork created by the hundreds of young artists who enter! Your shows always have the best “flow”! I especially appreciate that you offered teen artists a place to “shine”
- Martha Tonkin
