About
Visual Artists of Richmond is a very new, fiscally-sponsored project bringing together over 75 visual artists living in or working in Richmond, California. Our fiscal sponsor is Intersection for The Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In our group there is cultural and ethnic diversity, various age groups, high and low socioeconomic levels and emergent as well as established working artists.
To have a well-known, diverse, inclusive community of artists supporting each other by organizing opportunities to celebrate and promote our work, share resources, and support each other's art practices.
Mission
Artist Gatherings
Every two months, we organize gatherings for Richmond visual artists and creatives and hold a space where local visual artists can go with their projects, dreams and questions. Usually held at art organizations or friendly businesses, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on a weekday. Sign up for our newsletter so you can learn when the next one will be!
Online Directory
Our online directory promotes the work of visual artists living or working in Richmond to curators, gallerists, collectors, businesses and the public. The directory is free to artists, and runs independently of city agencies and organizations. Our goal is for it to become self-sustaining.
Richmond Open Studios
We organize an annual Open Studio where visual artists can sell their work directly to the public. Richmond Open Studios bring West Contra Costa art social media followers and neighbors eager to support local artists and businesses.
Local Artist Promotion
Our social media accounts and Opportunities page announces our members’ shows and classes free of charge.
What We Do
Richmond artists were invited to reflect on the state of the arts in our city at a January 2023 meeting led by consultants. We attended that meeting, and noticed that artists who had lived here for a long time and newcomers alike mentioned they did not have enough support. There were several conversations after the meeting, and out of those conversations came the inspiration to become our own advocates and work on ways to continue communicating to create spaces for artists to support each other.
History
We are are all Richmond visual artists, and we are all volunteers:
Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez
Laura Kamian McDermott
Lauren Ari
Erin McLuskey Wheeler
Brian Conery
