Santa Clara County Art, Culture & Media Articles

Library advocates say they expect to ride out the upcoming San Jose budget cycle without any major cuts. But trouble could be on the horizon, with the city projecting an ongoing shortfall over the next few years.
San Jose’s Library …

Downtown San Jose is a hub for cultural events — and with a menu of festivals on tap through spring and summer, local businesses should be able to capture some of the revenue stream.
Cultural events such as Cinco de …

The Morgan Hill Library’s new children’s play space, Trusty Trails, will open April 26. The Santa Clara County Library District will lead a community grand opening celebration featuring special guests, giveaways and an unveiling of a new library card design …

A mural honoring Chicano historical figures will move forward after San Jose arts commissioners made a surprising decision.
Dozens of supporters for a proposed mural in San Jose’s Northside neighborhood attended a San Jose Arts Commission meeting Monday at City …

The West Valley is known for its flagship festivals that bring multicultural food, live music and dancing to the streets. Those festivals come with a lofty price tag, and organizers are asking their cities for help keeping these beloved events …

Tempers flared at a recent community meeting when Latino residents in San Jose’s northside neighborhood advocated for design approval of a Chicano-themed mural.
Critics of the proposed mural at Backesto Park, including the members of the 13th Street Neighborhood Advisory …

Various instruments, such as tambourines and maracas, ring out during the Thursday afternoon “Rhythm of Life” drum circle at the College of Adaptive Arts, an educational institution for students with intellectual and developmental challenges.

Libraries across Santa Clara County are bracing for a multimillion-dollar federal funding cut that could affect vital community programs — all during National Library Week.
The California State Library learned last week President Donald Trump's administration terminated a $15.7 million …

The engulfing redwoods that surround Los Gatos are a bit of an enigma. You can’t help but wonder what lies beyond the greenery.

San José Spotlight is delighted to announce Omar Habbas as the first major supporter of a new educational initiative to invest in the next generation of journalists in Silicon Valley. 

South Valley Civic Theater has unveiled an ambitious lineup for its upcoming 2025-26 season, featuring productions ranging from Tony Award-winning musicals to adaptations of popular Disney movies.

After years of delays and planning, Campbell is about to complete construction on its new library — and one nonprofit is counting on locals to step up and fill in the gaps.
Friends of the Campbell Library aims to raise …

San Jose's downtown core is about to get more lively with a new late-night concert venue and bar in the works.
The City Council has unanimously approved permits for Pete Be Center, a more than 10,000-square-foot building located in the …

Silicon Valley groups are calling for a mural they say is racist to be removed from the Palo Alto branch of the Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Several groups including the NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley  and Muwekma Ohlone tribe said …

San Jose’s historic St. James Park is one step closer to joining a national nonprofit’s network of outdoor music venues fashioned from neglected public spaces.
The City Council unanimously authorized negotiations Tuesday for a three-party operating agreement for the future …

A coalition of California colleges including San Jose State University could manage a landmark investment by Google and the state to fund local newsrooms.
The director of San Jose State's journalism school signed onto an informal proposal submitted last month …

A new Vietnamese mural brings East San Jose residents agency.
The mural's three panels — which depict Vietnamese people fleeing their homeland, a woman in cultural dress and the beauty of Vietnam — is a first for the East San …

As the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara celebrates 60 years, I jumped back in time to its original heyday at Second and San Fernando in downtown San Jose. Six decades is a long time for a free art …

With the new year comes big changes to the Morgan Hill Times, which this week added experienced local media leaders to its team and will soon boast a new look for readers and advertisers.

In which we examine the current state of online news and information discovery and distribution platforms, and how we hope to chart a path forward in 2025.