about us
the vision
lille æske in Danish means “little box.” Nestled in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this handcrafted arthouse features an intimate venue for visual arts, live music, culinary events, performance and private space rentals.
Our mission is to keep arts, music, and culture alive & thriving in the San Lorenzo Valley from within the eclectic and unique space of our little box. This treasured arthouse has been a source of inspiration to the community of Boulder Creek since James and Sarah Mackessy opened its doors in 2014, and as we embark on its latest iteration we hope for it to continue to evolve as a source of fun, refreshment, creativity and expression for locals and visitors alike.
As a community-centered space, we at lille æske are always open to the potential of collaboration with other artists, musicians, performers and makers who want to share their own vision for the space and our town. If you are interested in being involved in the evolution of lille æske, contact us, follow us on facebook & instagram, or stop by and say hi.
Lille Aeske Arthouse is a non-profit organization 501(c)3. As such lille aeske arthouse does not discriminate based on gender, age, or race. We are an equal-opportunity organization that seeks to serve the community through enriching arts, music, and cultural events.
about us
the board with a mission
Anil Prajapati, CEO & MANAGING director
Anil has had a passion for art since childhood. He developed his drawing and painting skills by taking studio art classes in high school and college in his hometown of Santa Barbara. In his professional career, he worked for Adobe Systems for 12 years where art and creativity were strongly encouraged. He participated in several art shows hosted by Adobe throughout the years in their gallery in downtown San Jose. In 2010 and 2011 he fueled his passions by curating art with a team of 50 artists in San Francisco in collaboration with Scream, Inc. at boutique hotel called Hotel Des Arts. In this intimate venue, he learned how important art is to our community and how it touches the artists and many who are graced by its presence. In 2012 to 2015, Anil explored his own creativity in mixed media painting and lamp making and had a few shows throughout Santa Cruz County including the Redwood Mountain Faire, Abbott Square and the Santa Mountains Art Center. He is happy to now return to the art scene this precious gem, lille æske, where he plans to continue fueling his passions for art, music and more.
Contact Anil・ @aprajapati79
JENNIFER RUBY, WRITING PROGRAMS & CFO
Jennifer Ruby has served as a volunteer in various capacities at Lille Aeske since 2020. Originally from Claremont, CA, Jennifer is a longtime educator, poet, and nonfiction writer who makes her home in Boulder Creek. Jennifer holds an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in poetry and has taught creative writing and led workshops in the communities where she has lived. She is passionate about the arts in Boulder Creek and the programming that Lille Aeske offers and looks ahead to 2023.