Tracy Arts Commission announces 2023 Granting Program!

Tracy Arts Commission announces 2023 Granting Program!

The Tracy Arts Commission provides support and resources to the our local creative community.  The Granting Program is designed to encourage and help artists of all kinds, arts educators, and arts organizations present arts and cultural-based projects in Tracy.

Projects must be accessible to the public in the form of events and activities such as classes, exhibits, festivals, performances, screenings, readings, and workshops.  The application process is easy and friendly to small and large projects alike.  This granting cycle will support projects between July 2023 and June 2024.

Interested, have questions?  Join us for an orientation meeting on Wednesday, February 15 at 6 pm for assistance and helpful conversation.

Download the 2023 Granting Program Request For Proposals here!

We’re Hiring! Join Our Creative Team!

Employment opportunities are now available serving the Cultural Arts Division at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts!

P/T Rec Leader II – Arts Education Program

• P/T Program Assistants (3) – Theatre Operations / Event Support

• P/T Theatre Technicians (2) – Theatre Operations

F/T Cultural Arts Technical Coordinator – Theatre Operations

For more information and to submit your application online, visit:  CITYOFTRACYJOBS.COM

Applications are accepted until positions are filled.

Robot Library Debuts at the Grand!

A Little Free Library® designed and fabricated by Mark Knize is now on display at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts!

The Arts Education Program a issued a Request for Proposals for a custom little library to promote literacy and compliment the interdisciplinary arts programming at the Grand.  Local sculptor and woodturner Mark Knize was selected for his fun and innovative design.  The result is a life-sized, vintage robot that offers a variety of free arts-related resources including books, magazines, music and art-making supplies to youth and adults alike. Not only does the robot provide unique presentation, but it is also mobile and includes dynamic lighting.

The Robot Library will become a chartered member of the Little Free Library® international network.

Civic Art Street Banners to debut for September Artwalk

The Tracy Arts Commission (TAC) announces the debut of a new Civic Art pilot project at the Downtown Tracy Artwalk on September 17th.  Four local artists were selected to be featured on a set of street pole banners across the downtown district.

•  Jacob Alt (Tracy, CA):  27 W 10th St. near Town & Country

•  Jose L. Pina Morales (Tracy, CA):  715 Central Ave. at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts

•  John Sterry (Lathrop, CA):  112 10th St. near Baristas

•  Pamela Wilhelm (Tracy, CA):  1010 Central Ave. near Versailles Salon

These eight compelling images will be evaluated for their ability to add interest and beauty to the streetscape.  If found to be successful, the TAC will consider future opportunities for additional artist’s work to be featured.

Public feedback about the images, or the project as a whole, can be sent to:  william.wilson@cityoftracy.org

Downtown Mural Project – Updated Request For Proposals

The City of Tracy – Cultural Arts Division & Tracy Arts Commission is collaborating with Mr. Byron Alvarez in support of the creation of a new mural project located at 27 W. 10th St. in downtown Tracy, California. This high-visibility site is the east wall in the parking lot of Town and Country restaurant.  Conceptual proposals are due by 5:00 PM on Monday, October 24, 2022.

Artists who are interested in the project can download the Updated Request For Proposals for complete details!

Window Shades Project

The City of Tracy, Cultural Arts Division (CAD) announces the completion of a new collaborative Civic Art Project in downtown Tracy. CAD Staff and the Tracy Arts Commission, with the Grand Foundation (Kaylin Dell’Aringa, Former Chair) and Tracy City Center Association (Dino Margaros, Executive Director) and Kim Cose (Community Member at Large) worked collaboratively to select the area artists that will be featured.

A compelling set of images by artists Alyn Brereton (Modesto), Delbert Park (Tracy), Angela Johal (Livermore) and Mark Roberts (Antioch) are printed on 14 custom-fabricated shades across the windows of the art galleries. Five large-format works in painting and photography become murals on the streetscape, adding beauty, energy and interest to the area.

The public is invited to celebrate the project with a sidewalk viewing on Wednesday, October 28 at 10:00 am, at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, located at 715 Central Avenue. Social distancing and the use of masks are encouraged.

The project was co-funded with generous support from the Grand Foundation, the fundraising partner of the Center. The shades were manufactured and installed by OrangePiel of the Bay Area, a full-service design and technology company specializing in window shades and acoustical wall murals.

Remembering Our Friend Dino Margaros (1969 – 2022)

Dino Nicholas Margaros, 53, passed away unexpectedly August 27, 2022 in Tracy, California. He is survived by his mother, Catherine Margaros, his sister, Mia Rosenfeld, and his nephew, William Rosenfeld. He is also survived by countless dear friends whom he considered family.

Dino was born and raised in Tracy and proud of his Greek Orthodox heritage. After finishing high school, Dino attended the University of California, Riverside, graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Thereafter, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from San Jose State University.

After college, and while earning his Master’s Degree, Dino returned to his hometown of Tracy where he worked diligently to help transition management of the Tracy Inn from his father, Nick Margaros. Dino was proud to be the third-generation operator of the Tracy Inn, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather. He immediately immersed himself in the local culture and began his long tenure of community service, working tirelessly and passionately to ensure that downtown Tracy would remain a vibrant civic focal point for generations to come.

He was a natural leader on the board of directors with the Tracy City Center Association (TCCA) from 2012 to 2018, at which time he began serving as TCCA’s Executive Director, a role to which he was fiercely devoted. He cherished his service with the TCCA and each and every community member with whom he worked and collaborated. He was thoroughly dedicated to advancing and promoting Tracy’s downtown revitalization to ensure it remains a dynamic and thriving district that is ready, willing, and able to meet tomorrow’s challenges, and he was equally devoted to preserving Tracy’s historic charm. In short, Dino embodied the heart and soul of downtown Tracy. From its year-round downtown farmer’s market, to sidewalk sales, to block parties, to craft beer tasting events/wine strolls, and holiday parades, it is difficult to recall a downtown Tracy community event where Dino was not a valuable contributor and a visible presence—always sporting his signature smile, his “can-do” attitude, and his tireless commitment to help out any way he could.

His quiet strength, guidance, amazing sense of humor, and boundless love were also ever-present in his roles as son, brother, and uncle, and in his relationships with all the friends whom he held as close as family. Dino was larger than life yet so humble and kind.  The entire community has lost a tremendous member, a valuable contributor, and a dear friend.  His family lost a loving and devoted son, brother, and uncle with a heart of gold.

Remembering Our Friend Leona Darr Willis (1929 – 2017)

leona-willis

For many of us, Leona was the true champion of the revival of the historic Grand Theatre into the contemporary arts center it is today.  Her never ending energy to make the Grand rise again was powerful and influential to the hundreds of collaborators, and thousands of community members, who worked on the project for years.

When challenges emerged, Leona always had the right words of encouragement and sweetest twinkle in her eyes.  As a Grand Girl working at the theatre and as a life-long arts patron, the support and wisdom she generously shared was inspirational and priceless. Our Staff at the Grand and community-at-large will deeply miss her.

Tracy Press Obituary

Remembering Our Friend Gretchen Talley (1933 – 2016)

gretchen-talley

Gretchen Talley was a long time, celebrated community leader and activist, and one of Tracy’s quintessential arts and education supporters.  Her decades of remarkable community involvement included St. Bernard’s Mothers Guild, Tracy Joint Union High School District, San Joaquin County Board of Education, THS Parent Advisory Committee and Band Boosters, Tracy Parks & Recreation Commission, Tracy Tennis Club, San Joaquin County Bike Task Force, Tracy Friends of the Stockton Symphony and numerous other organizations.

Ms. Talley was also a Board Member of the Arts Leadership Alliance (now Grand Foundation) who worked in collaboration with the City of Tracy in the development of the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts.  For many years after the Grand opened, Gretchen would enthusiastically attend events and promote the Center, as well as consistently offer kind words of support to the Staff.  Her sincere efforts were always appreciated and she will be greatly missed.

Additional details about Gretchen’s impressive life has been recently documented in the Tracy Press.