City partners with Blue Note, dublab, Los Angeles Nomadic Division, others, in entertainment activations over five years

April 8, 2026 8:14 PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 8, 2026) — The city of Santa Monica welcomes 24 new arts and culture producing partners toward the development of exciting new activations and reimagining of beloved community events at the beachside destination.

The Producing Partner Program is part of the city of Santa Monica’s two-year Realignment Plan revitalization effort to bring exciting new activations to support the city’s economic vitality and growth. The program is set to enhance the already exciting three-year large-scale events plan announced in late 2025 with community focused events over the next five years.

Producing partners were identified through a robust request for proposals process that launched in October 2025. A panel of four professionals with expertise in event production, public programming, community outreach and grantmaking reviewed 28 submissions to select a diverse group of regional cultural producers across genres and disciplines.

These agreements establish a five-year eligibility list of qualified producing partners who may be considered for upcoming city activations and event opportunities.

The selected 24 producing partners include:

Producing partner activations are already starting to be set throughout the city. Highlights include:

June 6, 3rd annual Ocean of Sound, an evening at the historic pool with meditative listening and underwater listening at the Annenberg Community Beach House, with producing partner dublab
June 12, Golden Hour at Third Street Promenade, a World Cup free public event, part of a series of public activations taking place across Santa Monica, with producing partner Revel Republic
June 19, a Juneteenth musical event at the Miles Memorial Playhouse and Reed Park, a free concert with artmaking activities led by Camera Obscura Artist-In-Residence London James, with producing partner Blue Note Entertainment Group
June 20, the 34th annual Juneteenth Celebration at Virginia Avenue Park, a favorite community celebration, with producing partner Go As If Productions
July 19, COAST, an open-streets event across Downtown Santa Monica, part of World Cup activations, with producing partner Revel Republic
Sept. 13, summertime favorite Americana in the Park will return to Gandara Park, with producing partner McCabe’s
August, September and October activations at the Miles Memorial Playhouse and Reed Park, with producing partners to be announced soon
Portrait Studio at the End of America, a photography project by Sam Comen, opening October 2026 at the Annenberg Community Beach House gallery, with producing partner Santa Monica Pier Corporation

Event details can be found on the city’s online event calendar at santamonica.gov/events.

“Santa Monica is open for business, and these producing partnerships are proof of that,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said. “Through the Realignment Plan, we’re bringing in creative partners who will deliver fresh activations, grow our local economy and make sure our residents and visitors have more reasons to enjoy Santa Monica - from World Cup celebrations to neighborhood events all across the city.”

The Producing Partner Program is administered by the Recreation and Arts Department’s Cultural Affairs Division through the Art of Recovery initiative. Art of Recovery was initially launched during the pandemic to support artists, arts organizations and the community to harness the power of the arts in revitalizing community life.

For more information, click here.

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Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov

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