Ryan P. Cruz, Arts Writing Fellow

Ryan P. Cruz was born and raised in Santa Barbara, and worked as editor-in-chief of The Channels at Santa Barbara City College before taking on positions as Sports Editor at Coastal View News and News Reporter at the Santa Barbara Independent. In his writing, Cruz covers a broad range of topics, from city government, high-profile court cases, history, culture, sports and the arts. Influenced by Chicano journalists like Ruben Salazar, Cruz writes through a culture-focused lens, and pushes to share voices that are often left out of the conversation. He draws from personal experience and current events to feature subjects that are important to the community, such as criminal justice reform, youth outreach, and the individuals themselves that make these communities thrive. 

As an Arts Writing Fellow with Lum Art Magazine, Cruz has written about artists of color, like photographer Rod Rolle and graphic artist DJ Javier, and delved into how their racial identities help shape and propel their work. In the future, Cruz hopes to continue working to shed light on those that are often marginalized, whether it be for their race, gender, sexual preference, or those that have been personally affected by the criminal justice system.