City Arts of San Mateo was a non-profit organization that served as an advisory board to all things related to the arts and as a resource organization as well. It was founded by the Sam Mateo City Council in 1996. Its mission statement was simple –to allow all residents of the community and visitors to it to enjoy, appreciate, and if they desire, to participate in the arts in a variety of different forms. Theatre, paintings and sculpture, music, dance, film, and much, much more are just a few of the opportunities that the City Arts of San Mateo promoted and provided to all people.

One of the organization's recent endeavors was to launch a full fledged celebration of April, which is National Poetry Month. Poetry readings, poetry book giveaways, and more are going to be organized throughout the month, providing ample opportunities for citizens to learn about and hopefully come to appreciate this beautiful art form. The next big event on the agenda was a poetry reading by renowned poet Kevin Hearle to be held at Peet's Coffee and Tea on Thursday, April 23 at 5:30 in the evening. Admission was free, and this was a great opportunity for San Mateo residents or visitors to discuss and learn more about the art of poetry.

Another ongoing event was the exhibition of a series of different art works from the City Arts of San Mateo High School Arts Recognition Program. The paintings, sculptures, and other art mediums created by these talented students on display through May 1 at the San Mateo Public Library. Residents were encouraged to check the calendar regularly to learn about special meet and greet the artist nights. Those who had questions about how high school students could get involved with this program were also encouraged to contact the organization directly.