Loc Art is a new app that allows the Santa Cruz community to conveniently shop from its local artists and makers. Everything from painters to potters, designers to drawlers, the app directly connects you to some of the most talented creators in our community.

In addition to products, Loc Art is also partnering with local businesses and organizations to host numerous events and classes on a communal calendar, allowing people in the community to connect first-hand with the Santa Cruz art scene.

Lastly, you can directly contact your favorite artists to commission a custom, personal project. On Loc Art, the details are worked out between artist and client via the in-app chat, and a "job" is created & approved to ensure both parties' clarity.

For the artists, they can post artworks and manage their entire business from within the app. They also have the option to ship their artwork, deliver it themselves and charge a fee, or set a pickup option that is free for their customers. Artists benefit from the local focus of the app because it creates sales for the artist without the need for them to do any marketing themselves. This opportunity is unlike any other online platform offered to artists. 

Loc Art founders Dominic Elkin and Derick Delucchi both grew up in Santa Cruz, CA. They met as kids playing Little League baseball and went on to become good friends before both graduating from Santa Cruz High School. Derick has a BA in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Finance from the University of San Diego. Dominic pursued a degree in Web Design/New Media from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Having explored their lives elsewhere, they both felt a certain familiarity with Santa Cruz and found themselves back home.

They believe that while the creative community is both incredibly unique and vibrant, it suffers from a difficulty that many people experience when trying to immerse themselves in it. Loc Art is a single, unified platform through which the community can connect with their local artists and makers. Whether providing a novice a starting off point or giving a collector a more convenient way to add to their collection, Loc Art can make all facets of Santa Cruz art more accessible to everyone.

Loc Art went through a 'soft' launch in the Santa Cruz community in 2020. The focus of this launch was to receive helpful feedback to improve the functionality of the app and to get it ready for expansion. The app is currently going through a redesign and will be available for widespread launch at the beginning of 2021. 

Loc Art is seeking a technical cofounder as well as funding to aid in their expansion. For more information, please email Derick at derick@locart.org