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Before she had a studio at Cubberley Artist Studio Program, multimedia artist Martha Sakellariou made do with whatever space she could find — wherever there was room while raising her young children.
“I worked around the house in any open surface I could find,” she said.
The arrangement was workable, but far from ideal. Without a dedicated space, materials had to be packed away and set up again each day.
Now, her days look very different. Inside a former classroom at Palo Alto’s Cubberley Community Center, Sakellariou has space to spread out, experiment and work uninterrupted.
For many artists, that kind of dedicated workspace is hard to find. Securing an affordable, quiet and well-lit studio remains one of the biggest challenges working artists face, which helps explain the demand for Palo Alto’s Cubberley Artist Studio Program (CASP), a city-run initiative that provides subsidized studios to local artists.
The city of Palo Alto launched the program shortly after repurposing the Cubberley High School campus into the Cubberley Community Center in 1990, a broader transformation that included converting 22 classrooms into rent-subsidized art studios. Artists can work in the studios for up to four years — an unusually long residency compared with many programs that last weeks or months — in spaces ranging from 360 to 960 square feet at below-market rates.
Built-in community
SLIDESHOW: Works of art stored in Martha Sakellariou’s studio at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto on March 20, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
Collage materials in Martha Sakellariou’s studio at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto on March 20, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
Works of art stored in Martha Sakellariou’s studio at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto on March 20, 2026. Photo by Seeger Gray.
For Sakellariou, the benefits go far beyond square footage.
“The community is precious to me; it is my ‘medium’ and source of inspiration,” Sakellariou said, describing the daily interactions and informal exchanges that shape her work. “Having a studio in a public space like Cubberley acts like a living laboratory — the big advantage is that I get real-time interactions, access and input that I don’t think I could easily and informally get in a private setting.”
That collaborative environment is by design. Artists are selected every four years by a panel of local arts professionals based on artistic merit, commitment to an active practice, and exhibition history. The most recent call, in 2022, drew about 80 applicants from across the Bay Area. The city is expected to issue its next call for artists later this spring.
Denise Laxen di Zazzo, artist studio program coordinator, described the process as “highly competitive.”
As part of the program, artists agree to participate in two open studio events, inviting the public to tour the spaces and meet the artists. Outside of those events, they are free to use the studios as they wish, with 24-hour access.
Space to create
Painter Sang-ah Choi, seen here in her studio at Cubberley on March 20, said that having the space long-term has allowed more of a focus on her work. Photo by Seeger Gray.
For painter Sang-ah Choi, the program has been transformative in practical ways.
“The most significant change has been the ability to work at a larger scale and with greater continuity,” she said. “Being able to remain in the same studio for an extended period removed the ongoing pressure of constantly searching for workspace and made it possible to focus more fully on the work itself.”
Choi, who struggled with space constraints while working from home, said the studio allows her to lay out large works and experiment with scale and composition in preparation for exhibitions, while the secure, round-the-clock access supports a flexible schedule. Working from home was difficult due to space constraints.
SLIDESHOW: Works of art by Sang-ah Choi in her studio at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
Artist Sang-ah Choi said that her studio has given her the space to experiment with larger scale works. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
A section of a work of art by Sang-ah Choi in her studio at Cubberley Community Center. Photo by Seeger Gray.
Others echo that sentiment. Woodworker Darryl Dieckman said the studio provides something he simply couldn’t replicate as an apartment dweller: room to build, access power tools and connect with other artists.
“I would have very little to no ability to pursue my work without this opportunity,” he said.
Dieckman said being part of a creative community also was a major draw. After completing an intensive woodworking program at the Krenov School in Fort Bragg, he was eager to continue working alongside other artists. He said the program’s open studio events are less about sales and more about connection.
“It’s a great way to talk to people interested in woodworking and share knowledge about opportunities in the Bay Area,” he said.
SLIDESHOW: Woodworker Darryl Dieckman is a Cubberley resident artist. Courtesy Darryl Dieckman. 
Darryl Dieckman creates wood furniture. He said that the Cubberley open studio events offer a chance to connect with community members and share his woodworking knowledge. Courtesy Darryl Dieckman. 
A wood cabinet by Darryl Diekman, who is a Cubberley resident artist. Courtesy Stephen Mule.
Interdisciplinary artist Nasim Moghadam, who works in photography, sound and video, said the studio was essential in preparing for a recent solo exhibition.
Nasim Moghadam, an interdisciplinary artist who works in photography, sound and video, is finishing her second residency at Cubberley. She enjoyed a short-term residency in 2021 and decided to apply for a longer term in 2022. She said studio was crucial in helping her to prepare for a recent solo exhibition at SF Camerawork.
“I was in the studio nearly 18 hours a day for several weeks,” she said. “The studio is central to my creative rhythm, it’s where thinking, experimentation and production continuously unfold.”
SLIDESHOW: Mixed-media artist Nasim Moghadam sits for a portrait in her studio at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto on March 18. She described the studio as “central to my creative rhythm.” Photo by Seeger Gray. 
Works of art by mixed-media artist Nasim Moghadam in her studio at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto on March 18. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
“Fabrik” by Nasim Moghadam, an artwork made from beer and wine bottles, hangs in her studio for storage at Cubberley Community Center. Photo by Seeger Gray. 
Works of art by mixed-media artist Nasim Moghadam in her studio at Cubberley Community Center . Photo by Seeger Gray.
She also highlighted the value of peer interaction. “There is a natural exchange of ideas, from technical advice to conceptual dialogue to simple encouragement,” she said. “Sometimes it’s an informal hallway conversation; other times it develops into deeper critique and reflection. Being surrounded by diverse practices creates a motivating and supportive atmosphere.”
Former resident Ann MacMillan, now an instructor at the Palo Alto Art Center, said having a dedicated studio made artmaking “simple and straightforward” and allowed her to work more quickly and at a larger scale.
Looking ahead
The combination of affordable space and a built-in artistic community makes CASP a rare and valuable resource — one that supports both working artists and the broader cultural life of Palo Alto.
Sakellariou, who is nearing the end of her residency and will soon need to find a new workspace, said the prospect of leaving underscores how important the program has been.
“As far as I know, this is the only initiative and studio program like this here, and it is truly a lifeline — a gift to this area. It helps both artists and the wider community, and I genuinely hope to see it grow bigger and stronger,” she said.
Whether the program can do that may depend on decisions now facing city leaders. CASP’s future is tied to broader plans to renovate the Cubberley campus, which the Palo Alto City Council has identified as a funding priority for 2026. While no final decisions have been made, Laxen di Zazzo said arts and cultural programs — including CASP — remain central to those discussions.
“The city recognizes the value of the artist studios to the campus and the broader community,” she said.
The Cubberley Community Center is located at 4000 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/CubberleyResidencies
For more information about the Cubberley Artist Studio Program, email denise.laxendizazzo@paloalto.gov
Spring 2026 Open Studios
Tour working studios, meet local artists and view new works in progress during the next Cubberley Open Studios on Saturday, April 25, 1-5 p.m. The event will feature about 20 CASP artists. Admission is free. paloalto.gov/Departments/Community-Services/Arts-Sciences/Cubberley-Artist-Studio-Program.
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