Held at the Museum of Art and History (Oct. 13) and the Digital Arts Research Center (Oct. 14-15), the 2023 Festival includes the academic conference, plus performances, readings, presentations from monster-makers, and an exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) entitled Werewolf Hunters, Jungle Queens, and Space Commandos: The Lost Worlds of Women Comics Artists. There will also be a Monsters Ball Costume Party (Oct. 14 at 8:30 p.m.) at the Institute for the Arts & Sciences, 100 Panetta Ave., Santa Cruz.

The conference is free for current UC Santa Cruz students/faculty/staff. This free registration does not include breakfast or lunch on the conference days, only the panels, discussions and performances. The Museum of Art and History exhibit is separately ticketed by the MAH. If you want to include food, please register at the Eventbrite Conference site (cost $75). For the full schedule, please visit www.monsterstudies.ucsc.edu.

Sponsors include the Arts Research Institute of UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz Arts Division, The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz, Porter College, the UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board and private donors. Plus support from Bookshop Santa Cruz.100