A Message from Richmond Art Center’s Board President
A Message from Richmond Art Center’s Board President
Hello RAC Community,
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment it occurred. Perhaps it was when a beautiful new mural returned life and color to the Community Gallery’s long corridor? Or when the Board of Directors was able to meet in person after two years of isolating zoom calls?
No matter when, there came a time when everyone at Richmond Art Center sensed a new optimism on the corner of Barrett Avenue and 25th Street. Under the watchful gaze of Guillermo the Golden Trout, we had survived the pandemic! But victory had come with a steep price: the galleries had been closed for two years, in-person classes canceled, and many staff members laid off as financial resources dwindled.
Our optimism was fueled from many directions: the arrival of a new executive director who led the charge to increase the flow of funds into RAC, including two PPP grants from the federal government. Also, special Angels among our friends and supporters made significant donations that enabled us to renovate the interiors of galleries and classrooms. New staff members were added slowly as budgets permitted, and program offerings expanded.
The community response was inspiring.
But our spirits were darkened when we lost 23% of our income in July when we learned that two major funders would no longer be contributing to our annual budget. With this devastating news, the Board of Directors estimated that it will take a further eighteen months to complete the full recovery of RAC operations, staffing and programming.
I am writing now to ask: can you help? We are requesting your assistance by making a donation to Richmond Art Center’s end-of-year appeal.
Our goal of returning Richmond Art Center to full operational capacity by the end of 2023 is focused on these tasks:
- Education: Expanding our current capacity to deliver once again a full roster of classes both at the Center and through our community outreach programs.
- Infrastructure: Maintaining our efforts to execute necessary upgrades in the physical plant and utilities of the Center. Next May, we will celebrate the 25th birthday of RAC’s iconic sculpture Guillermo the Golden Trout by honoring its creator Andrée Singer Thompson and restoring the artwork.
- Programming: Returning to the practice of medium- and longer-term planning in support of our mission; and to continue increasing diversity and bilingualism in our outreach and programming.
WE ARE THE RICHMOND ART CENTER!
We teach art! We create art! We show art! We work in service to Richmond and the East Bay!
PLEASE HELP US COMPLETE THE RENAISSANCE AT RICHMOND ART CENTER. YOUR DONATION WILL HELP TO RESTORE RAC AS A JEWEL IN THE HEART OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND’S CIVIC CENTER.
Sincerely,
Michael Dear
Board President
Richmond Art Center
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