Mission Statement
Resting on 100 acres of avocado and citrus orchards 60 miles north of Los Angeles, The Orchard Projects invites artists, curators, musicians, and writers to escape studio life’s rigors and gain a critical distance from their work, their jobs, and the world at large. Through open dialogue in a relaxed atmosphere, The Orchard Projects aim is to foster a sense of clarity and community in those who are so often overburdened and underwhelmed by their own work in a broader creative fabric that can appear daunting, stressful and isolating.
History
The Orchard Projects are housed on the Cummings Ranch between Ventura and Santa Paula cities of Southern California. The Cummings family, who grew to be a renowned voice in the agricultural and ranching communities, established the ranch around 1869. The family enjoyed witnessing the ranch grow from a small, one room house to multiple properties throughout Ventura County.
Since 2004, the ranch has operated under new ownership, much as it did over one hundred years ago. Positioned in a perfect climate for cultivating oranges, lemons and avocados, the Cummings ranch remains a secluded venue facilitating cultural and intellectual growth as abundant as the harvest.
Contact
For submissions and general inquiries: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Staff
Brian Storts, Founder and Director
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Stoyan Dabov, Strategy and Development
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Sarah McMenimen, Project Manager
Rochelle Durst, Guest Relations
Daniel Pelt, Contributing Editor
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