Organization: SANCHEZ ART CENTER
Mission: The Mission of Sanchez Art Center is to Create Community through Art. We accomplish our mission by providing free exhibitions of emerging and established California and west coast artists, education and outreach designed to make art accessible to people of all ages
Activities: Free exhibitions were well attended (+1425 visitors) from Oct to mid-March, prior to the shelter-in-place ordered throughout the State and elsewhere in response to Covid-19. Though we know art is essential for the soul, Sanchez Art Center was closed to the public from mid-March through July. Responding to the times, we provided on-line tours of famous galleries through links and established our own virtual art galleries (SanchezArtCenterVirtualGalleries.org). The Left Coast Annual juried exhibition was held virtually and included our first virtual jurors talk/artist gallery walk where artists from all States represented in the show (California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii) were able to participate. We began our reopening in August with limited attendance by appointment only, and welcomed over 1180 visitors to the galleries following health and safety precautions. Overall, our gallery attendance was 2610, during very disrupted times (50% of our historic visitors). Exhibiting artists in the Main Gallery included: A duo of mixed media artists Dee Hooker and Dag Weiser and solo sculpture/performance artist Robert Ortbal. Art groups included WEAD (Womens Eco Art Dialogue) with a show Feat to the Fire recognizing the 100th anniversary of womens right to vote; Creativity Explored, providing opportunity to artists with developmental disabilities; and the Loom and Shuttle Guild. The Art Guild of Pacifica group show themes were: Home; Up Close; and Pathways and Journeys, plus the Annual Members Show.
19 studios leased to 28 artists meeting selection criteria; rates are below market and lease terms are limited.
Sanchez Art Centers focus on art education and community engagement is fundamental to our work. The Sanchez Goes to School project funded an artist instructor who began the year providing 12 VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) Standards lessons and art supplies to the students at Sunset Ridge Elementary School; the program went virtual from March through September with art supply kits provided for approximately 350 students. Summer camps for kids were cancelled due to Covid-19, as were hands-on art programs for adults.Art lectures and gallery walks/talks held in person and virtually and were attended by approximately 260, with the opportunity to also watch at a later time via a new Sanchez Art Center YouTube channel, increasing connection with the artists and understanding of their work inspiration, techniques and mediums.Large community events (Earth Day EcoFest; Pacific Coast Fog Fest; and the holiday tree lighting) where hands-on art activities have traditionally been provided were cancelled due to the health crisis. In place, Sanchez Art Center provided 100 creative engagement kits for seniors for Earth Day and printed art cards with inspiring messages delivered to grab and go lunch program participants and Meals onWheels recipients. Additional engagement activities included a monthly drop in program with the Pacifica Mothers Club for preschool families that took place in Jan March (pre-shelter-in-place).
NTEE category: Arts, Culture & Humanities