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.
Showcase Your Business at the 2024 Holiday Arts Festival
Promote your business to a creative crowd who wants to shop local!
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
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…
SPONSORSHOP LEVELS
HAF BFF: $5,000+
Friend of the Festival: $500+
SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS
Name featured on event marketing: flyers, web graphics, etc. (if secured before publication)
Clickable link in one e-newsletter (11,000+ subscribers)
Logo on Richmond Art Center’s website and social media
Acknowledgment on event signage
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)
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT
José R. Rivera, Executive Director jose@richmondartcenter.org, 510.620.6777
New art exhibits get a boost from wrestlers Sept. 20
A group of wrestling celebrities will help promote some new exhibits at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
On Fri., Sept. 20, members of the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre Wrestlers will be at a Sunset Social sponsored by the art center.
The free event is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the art center. It will also feature photographs of the wrestlers taken by Anthony Delgado as well as custom cocktails from The Factory Bar and music from DJ Graham LP.
The new works will be on display until Nov. 21. The art center galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Coastal Cleanup Day is Sept. 21
You can help beautify the Richmond shoreline at an event next weekend.
The local group will meet at Shimada Friendship Park, 79 Harbor View Drive, at 9 a.m. They will pick up litter and other trash between 9 a.m. and noon.
Volunteers are advised to wear a hat and sunscreen. They are also asked to bring a bucket, reusable gloves and a water bottle.
Artist Erin McCluskey will be doing her part. She will be picking up beach litter for material to incorporate into her mixed media work.
Top image: Members of the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre Wrestlers group will be at the Richmond Art Center on Sept. 20. Credit: Anthony Delgado
Dive into mixed media and exhibit your work in our galleries
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…
Oceanic Adventures with Acrylics and Mixed Media
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.
Loom alert! Two new weaving classes added to our fall class lineup
Weaving Curious: An Intro to Floor Looms
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.
Floor Loom Weaving 102: Techniques for Beginner to Intermediate Students
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.
Richmond, CA: Richmond Art Center announces two special events to celebrate the fall season with dance, drama, and plenty of art-making fun.
Right Here, Right Now – Sunset Social
Friday, September 20, 5pm-8pm | FREE ENTRY Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA EVENT WEBPAGE
Let’s gather at sunset for art and community as we bid farewell to summer. Richmond Art Center’s courtyard and galleries will be transformed into a space for celebrating the artists featured in Right Here, Right Now, Richmond with art-making, music, and more.
Meet the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre Wrestlers, and view Anthony Delgado‘s photography capturing them in action. Participate in a Richmond-themed art project led by artist Quinn Keck, and watch live screen printing by Art Hazelwood. Enjoy custom cocktails by The Factory Bar and light bites from local food vendors, all set to a soundtrack by DJ Graham LP.
It’s not often we open our galleries after dark – don’t miss it!
Día de los Muertos: Fall Family Day
Saturday, October 19, 12pm-3pm | FREE Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA EVENT WEBPAGE
Join us for a celebration of Día de los Muertos at Richmond Art Center. Our courtyard and galleries will come alive with art-making, music, and a live performance by Danza Azteca Teokalli.
This free event is open to kids of all ages and their families. Artists and activities include a community Mural with Luis García, repujado with Rachel-Anne Palacios, lavender smudge offering, and more.
No RSVP is needed—just bring your creativity and festive spirit!
Accessibility and Parking: Ample free parking is available in the 25th Street lot across the street from Richmond Art Center. The facility is accessible to wheelchair users via the Barrett Avenue entrance, adjacent to a parking lot with six accessible spaces. 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 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
Richmond Art Center features pro wrestlers, upcycled art and more
By Kathy Chouteau
September exhibitions at the Richmond Art Center (RAC) will see artistic inspiration derived from a variety of extraordinary sources, including Oasis Pro Lucha Libre wrestlers and Coastal Cleanup Day.
An Opening Reception will kick off the month of exhibitions at the RAC this Saturday, Sept. 7 from 1-3 p.m. in an event that’s free to attend. The afternoon of art will include Right Here, Right Now, Richmond—showcasing the work of Anthony Delgado, Art Hazelwood, e bond, Erin McCluskey Wheeler, Helia Pouyanfar, Quinn Keck and Taro Hattori. The exhibition celebrates the visionary art and ideas of local artists in Richmond, according to the RAC. Also up for exploration will be Sentinels & Saviors, Abi Mustapha: Recent Work and The Art of Sumi-e. An RSVP is not necessary for the Opening Reception.
Next up, on Friday, Sept. 20 from 5-8 p.m. will be a rare chance to not only mingle with the aforementioned Right Here, Right Now, Richmond artists after dark, but also meet the Oasis Pro Lucha Libre wrestlers who are the photographic subjects of Anthony Delgado’s exhibition. Adding to the revelry will be a Richmond-themed art project led by artist Quinn Keck, cocktails from The Factory Bar, light bites from local food vendors and a soundtrack by DJ Graham LP. Admission is free and RSVPs aren’t needed.
Inspiration for art is everywhere, you just need to find it. Driving home this point will be artist Erin McCluskey Wheeler, who invites the community to join her at the “40th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day” Saturday, Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Shimada Friendship Park in Richmond to collect beach litter to use in her mixed media artwork. “Join Erin in finding artistic inspiration while contributing to the cleanup of Shimada Friendship Park’s shoreline,” said the RAC. Registration is required.
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.
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).
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 Biennialwill 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.
