100% of funds raised this Giving Tuesday will go to our Scholarship Fund
December 3 marks Giving Tuesday—a global day of generosity that kicks off the holiday season.
This year, please consider contributing to Richmond Art Center’s Scholarship Fund. Your support helps students access no/low-cost art classes and attend summer camp for free.
“It is very rewarding to see our Richmond community have access to learning new artforms and blossom in these classes regardless of their financial circumstances.” – Elaine Moreno-Jolly, Scholarship Program Manager
Over the past twelve months, we awarded over $34,000 in scholarships to more than 130 children, youth, and adults. Now, our fund is running low, and we need to raise at least that much to continue these opportunities in 2025.
Mail a Check: Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave, Richmond, CA 94804 (note on the check’s memo line “Scholarship Fund”)
More About Our Scholarship Fund: Making art accessible to all is at the core of Richmond Art Center’s mission. Through our needs-based Art Boost scholarships, we offer free art classes and camps to community members who cannot afford them, including children, teens, and adults. We also collaborate with community partners – like the West Contra Costa Unified School District – to reach under-resourced populations, ensuring they can participate in our programs at no cost. In 2024, we awarded over 100 scholarships to youth and adults. Scholarship funds cover teacher salaries, materials, and some operating costs.
Thank you for being part of Richmond Art Center’s creative community. Your generosity ensures our programs remain accessible to everyone!
An opening reception for the trio of free-to-view exhibitions is set for Jan. 25 from 1-3 p.m. and gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The winter season will mark Art of the African Diaspora’s 28th year honoring the creative expressions of artists of African descent, according to the RAC. The center’s Main Gallery will feature the works of more than 150 local Black artists in what is touted as the Bay Area’s largest non-juried exhibition of its kind.
Nearby in the RAC’s West Gallery, artists Deborah Butler, Kim Champion and Carrie Lee McClish will be showcased, while the overall program also includes receptions, guest speaker events, open studios and satellite exhibitions Bay Area-wide. The RAC’s print catalog, coming out in January 2025, will offer a guide to the exhibition’s surrounding facets.
Richmond’s own Daniel “Attaboy” Seifert’s latest iteration of his Upcycled Garden, a project rooted in the pandemic, is coming to the RAC’s South Gallery. Repurposed materials—pizza boxes, COVID tests and shipping boxes among them—are applied to make “whimsical organic forms,” said the center. The forms have combined over time and to become a garden installation that’s a reflection on consumption and an otherworldly space that outshines its everyday origins.
Jennifer Linderman’s fall art classes at the RAC have set flight to a collection of work by her students in Across Land and Sea. The exhibition will feature mixed media and pastel works on paper by her students, as well as Linderman’s own works.
Find the Richmond Art Center at 2540 Barrett Ave. in Richmond. Learn more here.
January 22 – March 22, 2025 Opening Reception: Saturday, January 25, 1pm-3pm Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804 Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm Exhibitions and events are all free and no rsvp is necessary
Richmond, CA: Opening January 2025, Richmond Art Center’s galleries will showcase new art that bursts with color, meaning, and inventive materials.
In its 28th year, Art of the African Diaspora continues to express and honor the creative achievements of artists of African descent. In the Main Gallery, over 150 local Black artists will showcase their work in the Bay Area’s largest non-juried exhibition of its kind. The adjacent West Gallery highlights work by featured artists Deborah Butler, Kim Champion, and Carrie Lee McClish.
The Art of the African Diaspora program includes receptions, guest speaker events, open studios, and satellite exhibitions throughout the Bay Area. Be sure to grab a copy of the print catalog, available in January 2025, for a comprehensive guide to this dynamic celebration.
In the South Gallery, Daniel “Attaboy” Seifert unveils a new iteration of his Upcycled Garden, an ever-growing project born during the pandemic. In 2021, faced with lockdown challenges, Attaboy began repurposing materials like pizza boxes, COVID test kits, shipping boxes, and house paint through an intuitive, meditative process to create whimsical organic forms. Over time, these forms evolved into a garden installation that serves as both a diary of consumption and an otherworldly space—both playful and strange—that outshines its humble origins. Upcycled Garden has been exhibited at ten venues across the United States, and we’re excited to now present it in Richmond, the artist’s hometown.
Finally, the Community Gallery we’re proud to showcase work by the talented students working in our studios. Across Land and Sea will include mixed media and pastel works on paper by students from Jennifer Linderman’s fall art classes at Richmond Art Center, along with works by Linderman herself.
An Opening Reception for all exhibitions will be held on Saturday, January 25, from 1pm to 3pm. All are welcome to attend.
About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass classes, exhibitions and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org
Images (from top down): Artworks by Jennifer Linderman, Carrie Lee McClish, and Attaboy
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
FREE
Let’s come together one last time at Richmond Art Center to celebrate Art of the African Diaspora 2025! Let’s honor the artists, reflect on the journey, and celebrate the rich legacy of this long-standing event.
INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Artwork Pick Up: Exhibiting artists can pick up their artworks after the Closing Reception event from 4pm-5:30pm. Please note, no earlier artwork pick up can be accommodated.
Upcycled Garden: Artist Walkthrough and Paper Succulent Workshop with Attaboy
Saturday, March 1, 11am start
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
Join Daniel ‘Attaboy’ Seifert for a guided tour of his Upcycled Garden exhibition, followed by a hands-on session where he’ll show us how to create our own paper plate succulents.
Art of the African Diaspora: A Conversation Between Raymond Holbert and Janice Edwards
Saturday, February 22, 2025, 12pm-1:30pm
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
FREE
Join us for a conversation between artist Raymond Holbert and television and radio host Janice Edwards. This event is presented as part of Art of the African Diaspora 2025.
Raymond Holbert is a distinguished photographer, artist, and educator renowned for his evocative street photography. His work explores themes of science, leisure, and social issues, capturing contemporary life. As an educator, Holbert has been dedicated to mentoring students and fostering the development of future artists. He holds the title of Professor of Art Emeritus at City College of San Francisco. To learn more about his work, visit memorybanque.com.
Janice Edwards is an award-winning television and radio talk show host, Emmy-nominated producer, and co-author of the international bestseller Step Into Your Brilliance. She is a sought-after MC and media coach, as well as the creator, host, and executive producer of Janice Edwards TV: Bay Area Vista, originally launched on NBC Bay Area in 2002 and now in its 22nd year. Throughout her inspiring career, Janice has conducted over 12,000 interviews with notable guests such as Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Barack Obama, Greta Gerwig, Kevin Costner, Kerry Washington, and many others. Her media journey began at 16 as a teen radio talk show co-host, and her extensive credits include NBC Bay Area, CBS5, KRON4, ABC7, and radio stations like KPFA and WSB. In 2019, she was inducted into the Black Legends of Silicon Valley Hall of Fame for News & Documentary.
THANKSGIVING: Richmond Art Center will be closed Thursday, November 28, 2024 through Saturday, November 30, 2024.
WINTER BREAK: Richmond Art Center will be closed from Saturday, December 21, 2024 through Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Staff will be onsite again starting Thursday, January 2, 2025. Please see the exhibition and class calendar to find out when programs resume.
Art of the African Diaspora Artistic Achievement Awardee Talk
Saturday, January 25, 2025, 11am-12:30pm
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
FREE
Join us for a conversation with the artists who received Artistic Achievement Awards for their work in Art of the African Diaspora: Deborah Butler, Kim Champion, and Carrie Lee McClish.
Experience Richmond’s 62nd Annual Holiday Arts Festival
Sunday, December 8, 10am-4pm | Free Admission Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA
Richmond, CA: Richmond Art Center is delighted to announce the Holiday Arts Festival will return on Sunday, December 8, from 10am to 4pm. In its 62nd year, the festival continues to be all about art as an experience for all to explore, make and purchase affordably through featuring local artisans and free art-making activities.
The heart of the festival is the Arts and Crafts Marketplace, showcasing one-of-a-kind designs, artisanal products, and handmade treasures. “We’re thrilled to welcome over fifty vendors this year,” says Executive Director José R. Rivera. “These talented makers from across the Bay Area—including many from Richmond—offer a fantastic opportunity to shop for creative gifts (or treat yourself) while supporting independent artists and small businesses.”
New to the festival in 2024 is the Zine Zone, a dedicated space for independent zines, print, comics, and indie artists. The Zine Zone celebrates these art forms as powerful tools for expression and social justice.
Additional highlights include the popular Ceramics Studio Sale featuring an array of handmade, functional ceramics at unbeatable prices, free drop-in art-making activities, pop-ups from Richmond-based community partners, and live music throughout the day.
The Holiday Arts Festival takes place at Richmond Art Center, located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome to join in the festivities.
Start your holiday shopping early! Browse the online vendor gallery and learn more about the festival at: richmondartcenter.org/haf
Accessibility and Parking: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across from Richmond Art Center. Wheelchair access is available via the Barrett Avenue entrance, with accessible parking spaces nearby. Parking and Entrance Map
About Richmond Art Center: Richmond Art Center has been sharing art and creating with the community since 1936. Our programs encompass art classes, exhibitions, and events at our facility in downtown Richmond, as well as off-site activities that bring free, high-quality art-making experiences to WCCUSD schools and community partners. richmondartcenter.org
For more information, images and artist stories contact: Amy Spencer, amy@richmondartcenter.org
Meet Some of Festival Participants:
“I love participating in the annual holiday festival, it’s one of my favorite days of the holiday season as a maker. I find that the people who attend are deeply committed to the arts and supporting handmade, handcrafted and items made with love and creative care. I can’t wait!”
“I will be selling fine art prints celebrating the biodiversity of the California coast. I love to share my passion for nudibranchs, fungi, and all the creatures that make our state colorful and unique.”
“As a local artisan, I’m thrilled to bring Broken Angels Design’s handcrafted sterling silver jewelry to the Holiday Arts Festival. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share our passion for creating unique pieces that help you ‘Wear Elegance and Beauty Everyday’.”
“A Bay Area native, raised in Richmond, I will be sharing my passion for nature and the outdoors through paintings and prints. I love exploring local Bay Area hikes as well as the greater California area to find inspiration for my landscapes. I am looking forward to sharing my work at Richmond Art Center!”
