Thank you to everyone who voted for us. We’re honored to receive this award and excited to share the spotlight with our neighbor, NIAD Art Center (Silver). The arts in Richmond are truly thriving!
Weblink: https://eastbayexpress.com/best-of-east-bay-2024-arts-and-culture/
A Message from the Executive Director
Our FY2023-2024 Impact Report highlights our key achievements over the past year, and I’m happy to share that it’s a story of bigger, better, and brighter.
The organization is in a solid position at the start of the new fiscal year, though not as strong as pre-COVID. While the FY2023-24 budget was originally planned with a deficit, our effective fundraising efforts enabled us to close the year with a budget surplus. We successfully renewed key grants, including those from the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, and Lesher Foundation, and forged an important new partnership with the Richmond City Council. Additionally, we’ve seen increased support from the community through individual donations, memberships, and volunteer involvement. But this is a never-ending, ongoing effort.
This progress we’ve made is a testament to the dedication of our staff, board, volunteers, donors, and partners. We look forward to building on this momentum over the next year and beyond, ensuring visual art can continue to thrive in Richmond while bringing joy to all those we serve.
José R. Rivera
62nd Annual Holiday Arts Festival
Sunday, December 8, 10am-4pm
Every year, the Holiday Arts Festival welcomes over 1,000 visitors to shop for one-of-a-kind gifts from local arts and crafts vendors, savor delicious food and drinks, and engage in art-making activities for all ages. The Festival’s gift sale takes place from 10am to 4pm at Richmond Art Center, located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond. Learn more…
SPONSORS over $5,000 are also invited to table at the event
To sponsor the Holiday Arts Festival, click the button above to contribute through our MightyCause platform, and select ‘HAF Sponsorship’ as the designation.
Richmond Art Center is a 501c3 non-profit. Your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law. (Tax ID 94-6104204)
José R. Rivera, Executive Director
jose@richmondartcenter.org, 510.620.6777
We love showcasing student artwork! Create some mixed media magic in these fall classes and see your work featured in our galleries this winter. Learn more…
Thursdays, 10am-12:30pm, September 12 – October 17
Teaching Artist: Jennifer Linderman
Capacity: 11 Students
Immerse yourself in a magical underwater world as you learn to paint a vibrant array of sea creatures using acrylics and mixed media techniques.
Tuesdays, 10am-12:30pm
October 1 – November 19
Teaching Artist: Jennifer Linderman
Capacity: 11 Students
Unleash your inner flower power with the possibilities of pastels. We’ll use floral arrangements to explore techniques to make different pastel media sing.
Thursdays, 5:30pm-8:30pm, September 26 – November 14
Teaching Artist: Laurie Kelsoe
Capacity: 6 Students
This class will introduce students to the joys of weaving. Students will learn how to weave basic weave structures and how to read a pattern. Students will also learn how to wind a warp, dress their loom, as well as basic color theories. This class is perfect for absolute beginners, or students wanting to start from scratch with a refresher course on the technical side of weaving on floor looms.
Thursdays, 12pm-3pm, September 26 – November 14
Teaching Artist: Laurie Kelsoe
Capacity: 6 Students
Floor Loom Weaving 102: Techniques for Beginner to Intermediate Students
Dive deeper into weaving! This class is for students who have taken at least one floor loom class and know how to dress a loom. Students will choose their own patterns and designs, and are encouraged to explore different weaving techniques including pile, soumak, and weft interlocking.
Are you interested in participating in Art of The African Diaspora? New artists, as well as past participants seeking a refresher, are invited to attend a zoom info session to learn about the 2025 program. Read the artist guidelines and come prepared with your questions.
Art of the African Diaspora ZOOM INFO SESSION
Saturday, August 31, 1pm-2pm
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82451380102?pwd=Cg2zWCNuIaNSRaanVt8jWGlJAAVEKW.1
Note, this info session is hosted by the AOTAD Steering Committee. If you have questions please contact them at aotadexhibition@gmail.com (Richmond Art Center is closed 8/31 for Labor Day Weekend).
Image: Artwork by Deborah Butler
Hello Friends,
Two exciting programs launching this fall. First, join me in welcoming Andres Serrano as our new artist-in-residence. Andres, a lifelong Richmond resident, brings a ceramics practice that explores themes of queerness, home, and culture. Additionally, the third iteration of the Right Here, Right Now, Richmond Biennial will open in our main gallery, showcasing the talents of seven local artists.
Both the residency and the biennial are made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. We are immensely proud to receive this national recognition for programs that uplift and celebrate local artists.
Are you a local artist or a creative at heart? I encourage you to explore our fall offerings—whether it’s by signing up for a class, applying to participate in the Holiday Arts Festival, registering for Art of the African Diaspora, or just getting messy at Fall Family Day. We hope that Richmond Art Center can support and inspire your creative journey.
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
José R. Rivera
Top image: e bond installing her work with assistance from fellow exhibiting artist Erin McCluskey Wheeler. Come see their work when ‘Right Here, Right Now, Richmond’ opens on September 4.
We’re excited to welcome Andres Serrano as the new artist-in-residence at Richmond Art Center. A lifelong Richmond resident, Andres brings a strong community connection and a creative practice focused on queerness, home, and culture through ceramics.
Andres holds an MFA in Art from San Francisco State University and a BA from UCLA in Spanish and Chicana/o Studies. His work has been showcased at the Berkeley Art Center, 500 Capp Street, and here at Richmond Art Center. Beyond ceramics, Andres is passionate about serving the Richmond community through various nonprofit organizations.
Outside the studio, you might find Andres biking around Richmond, experimenting with ceramic glazes, exploring Sprouts’ bulk bins, or enjoying the latest Real Housewives drama.
Andres shared his goals for this residency, saying, “I am excited to be working with the Richmond Art Center to continue supporting youth and local residents in our community through the arts, especially through ceramic arts. From my own lived experience, I had limited access to art and art studios, and this residency provides me with opportunities to spread the joy of ceramics and other expressive mediums within our vibrant Richmond community. This residency will allow me to deepen my connection within Richmond and provide space and opportunity for others to explore and enjoy themselves through art-making.”
About the Richmond Artist Residency: The Richmond Artist Residency is an 8-month program designed to support emerging and mid-career visual artists. The residency offers a unique opportunity for artists to pursue their creative work while actively engaging with the Richmond community. The residency also focuses on building skills in various studio disciplines such as ceramics, printmaking, and fiber arts, with access to technical support and shared studio equipment.
This Richmond Artist Residency is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
UPCOMING EVENTS WE NEED ASSISTANCE WITH*:
Volunteers assist our team, help out in the studios, support outreach, and more. Volunteer benefits include a discount on classes. We can also support students (ages 16+) wanting community service hours for class credit.
*We especially need volunteers who can assist with light physical duties such as setting up and breaking down events.
Questions? Contact Kimberly Ross, kimberly@richmondartcenter.org
Calling All Arts and Crafts Vendors! Be part of the 62nd Annual Holiday Arts Festival!
Event Date: Sunday, December 8, 10am-4pm
Vendor Application Deadline: Monday, September 30, 2024, 11:59pm
Applications are now open for local artists, artisans, and makers to showcase their work at the Holiday Arts Festival. This shop-local event offers a fantastic opportunity to present your work to an enthusiastic audience of over 1,000 people who value hand-crafted gifts.
There is no application fee and first-time vendors to the festival are encouraged to participate.
