Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 12:00 AM to Friday, December 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM
18th Street Arts Center, Santa Monica
**November 26 - December 19, 2025 ** **Opening: November 26th, 4pm - 6pm ** **Open: Daily, M-F, 10am - 5pm ** **Closing: December 19th, 4pm - 6pm** [**18th Street Arts Center**](https://18thstreet.org/venue/18th-street-arts-center/) **1629 18th Street -** **Hearth** *Santa Monica Recognizes Latinx, Afro, Asian, White, and Indigenous Queer Heritage* is a celebratory art exhibition and public program that honors the diverse histories and contributions of queer communities in the City of Santa Monica. Drawing from local perspectives, this initiative uplifts the stories of queer people of color, Indigenous voices, and allied communities whose legacies have shaped both the city’s cultural fabric and the broader movement toward liberation. Through an Open Call for this Santa Monica-based exhibition, participants are invited to submit works that engage with the city’s queer history—its artists, activists, and community spaces past and present. The curation will highlight contemporary practices rooted in storytelling, resilience, and collective memory, allowing audiences to experience how histories of struggle and triumph continue to inform today’s creative voices. These stories will provide visibility not only to the artworks but also to the narratives of those who have historically been underrepresented in official accounts of Santa Monica’s past. Beyond static displays, the program will foster dialogue between generations and across cultural identities. By amplifying the work of artists who have been shaped by Santa Monica’s cultural institutions—this exhibition connects contemporary queer creative practice with the city’s long-standing reputation as a hub for experimental and socially engaged art. At its core, this event seeks to celebrate community history and diversity, honor the achievements of queer artists, foster connection across communities, and address inequities by affirming the positive contributions of queer people to the city’s past, present, and future. In doing so, it reinvigorates a sense of shared belonging and civic pride while positioning Santa Monica as a leader in cultural equity and historical recognition.