Supporting underground and independent artists and musicians within a small, foggy community.
Our Mission: Big Leap Collective creates opportunities for diversity, accessibility, and education through immersive and community-focused events and collaboration in the Bay Area and beyond.
Big Leap Collective is an art and music nonprofit based in the Bay Area with a mission to empower independent and diverse artists through inclusive and accessible events, education, and mutual aid. We believe in increasing artist financial equity, fostering intergenerational artistry, community engagement, and bridging local and global arts culture.
“Big Leap Collective originally got its name because I wanted to create a platform where artists and those interested in learning about the arts and live events could take that first “big leap” to getting more involved in their local community, or even that first step branching out into an entirely new, inclusive and welcoming arts and music community! ”
Big Leap Collective Board of Directors
Ellie Stokes (she/her/hers) | Founder, CEO, Artistic Director
Ellie Stokes is the Founder/CEO of Big Leap Collective. Ellie developed Big Leap Collective in the Fall of 2019 to embolden a strong emphasis on local independent art and music that the Bay Area cherishes. Ellie believes that it’s time to reinvent what the event industry looks like within financial and disability accessibility, and how we connect and experience different art mediums with diverse and equitable local as well as inter-global independent arts and music cultures through accessible, community events and low-stakes inclusive educational opportunities within the live events and music field.
Ellie also plays in the cabaret psych-punk band Grooblen, and you can find her on Instagram @ellieisgrooblen
(photo by Robin Fadtke)
Christina Cerza (she/her/hers) | Board, Volunteer Coordinator
Christina is a music industry professional, event producer, and radio host. She has produced live shows in LA and now the Bay Area, has worked in music venues in booking, operations, and marketing, and now hosts a femme and queer focused radio show on Oakland's Lower Grand Radio. Christina currently works at Women's Audio Mission, a Bay Area nonprofit that brings audio engineering education and opportunities to women, girls, and gender nonconforming people, and has previously held roles at Live Nation/House of Blues Entertainment and Pandora.
You can find Christina on Instagram: @hotgothgfradio
Matthew “Shark” Shartsis (he/him/his) | Board
Matthew "Shark" Shartsis is the current Executive and Music Director of San Francisco Rock Project, a nonprofit music school dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of music in the community. In his role with Rock Project, he has produced countless shows around SF and beyond, as well as launched music instruction programs throughout various community channels, including SFUSD, SF Public Library, and more. He is a self taught musician as well as a photographer and father of two. Inspired endlessly by the natural world, he believes in the "intrinsic amazingness of every individual and the limitless potential all humans have as creators." As a solo musician, he plays under the name Thee Great White Shark.
Websites:
instagram: @theegreatwhiteshark
Music: www.theegreatwhiteshark.bandcamp.com