by Marsian De Lellis
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the City of Santa Monica hosted State of the City at Christine Emerson Reed Park and the newly reopened Miles Memorial Playhouse, marking both a community celebration of resilience and the kickoff of the city of Santa Monica’s 150th anniversary festivities. The evening featured an opening reception with Mayor Lana Negrete and new City Manager Oliver Chi, followed by performances and presentations highlighting community, creativity, and recovery.
The program began with welcome remarks from city officials and a poem by Santa Monica Poet Laureate Anne Carmack, setting a tone of reflection and celebration. The opening was followed by performances in the park, including Downbeat 720, a long-running youth open mic and performance lab, who energized the audience with student and professional artist collaborations led by Joe Hernandez-Kolski and Joshua Silverstein.
LAPP Artist + Director of Field Initiatives, William Ruiz Morales with Patricia Garza, Cultural Affairs Supervisor at the City of Santa Monica (and former LAPP Director of Programs)
Then, Los Angeles Performance Practice (LAPP) presented our BRIDGE THE GAPS: Wildfire Relief for L.A. Artists initiative. LAPP Artists and Directors Marsian De Lellis and William Ruiz Morales shared how the January wildfires devastated local artists—disrupting lives, work, and creative momentum—and how the program’s microgrants (BtG_FUND) and residencies (BtG_NEST) provide critical financial relief and space for creative recovery. They introduced NEST artists Sheetal Gandhi and Lindsay Red-tail, who shared moving reflections and performances centered on loss, resilience, and reconnection to practice. NEST residencies were coordinated with support from Cultural Affairs Supervisors Patricia Garza and Natalie Marrero, whose partnership made these artist recovery opportunities possible.
NEST resident artist + performer Sheetal Gandhi with LAPP Artist + Director of Creative Resourcing, Marsian De Lellis
String Theory, the hybrid performance ensemble known for its immersive musical installations, closed the program with a dynamic large-scale performance.
Throughout the event, city department and partner booths engaged attendees of all ages with activities and information on city initiatives, while Santa Monica Conservancy docents led 15-minute tours of the historic Miles Memorial Playhouse. Trivia games, giveaways, local food vendors, and a beer garden created a festive atmosphere that balanced celebration with a focus on community recovery.
This year’s State of the City highlighted how Santa Monica is fostering creative resilience, celebrating its cultural community, and supporting artists as essential contributors to healing and transformation. LAPP was honored to be a part of the experience.
