Arts Benicia's mission is to stimulate, educate and nurture cultural life in Benicia. This private non-profit organization serves to coordinate, administrate, fund and publicize the arts to benefit the public.

Since the acquisition of a 2400 square foot space in the historic Arsenal area in 1993, Arts Benicia has created an Arts Center and Gallery that has become the hub of a large community of studio artists. A diverse exhibition schedule features the work of over a hundred local and Northern California artists in a gallery setting, providing opportunities for artists at many different levels of experience to show and sell their work.

Annual events include:

The Art of A Community, annual open members' exhibit
Benicia Artists Open Studios
Cream from the top, critically acclaimed exhibit featuring work from Bay Area Master of Fine Arts programs
Art Auction and Gala, an annual fundraiser
Invitational and juried exhibits featuring local and regional artists, with the participation of distinguished arts professionals serving as jurors or guest curators.

A 1500 square foot classroom next door to the gallery hosts a year round schedule of 4 to 8 week sessions in painting, drawing, and printmaking, plus workshops in pastels, plein air painting, encaustic, observational drawing, color theory, and other topics.

As the City of Benicia's designated Arts Body, Arts Benicia was instrumental in the creation of a gallery and an exhibition program at the Benicia Public Library, and has implemented the selection and installation of Benicia's public art pieces:

"Benicia Bench" by Robert Arneson, Benicia Marina
"Caduceus Rose" by Lee Roy Champagne, Rose Drive Medical Arts Center
"Untitled" by Sandra Shannonhouse and "Untitled" by Gregg Renfrow, Benicia Public Library
"Dona Benicia's Mantilla (envelops the General's chair)" by Linda Fleming, Harbor Walk

In order to fulfill its broad mission, Arts Benicia presents and sponsors a wide variety of rotating exhibits, programs, events, and performances in the community.

Examples include:
Arts Benicia Presents solo exhibitions at local venues
Art in City Hall
Poetry Readings
Creativity Symposiums
Slide talks, Artists' Forums and Lectures
Artist Studio Tours for regional art groups

Arts Benicia is supported by membership, corporate and public funding, and fundraising events. There is no admission charge to see exhibits, and docented tours are free to the public.

CONTACT US:
by mail: Arts Benicia Gallery Office, P.O. Box 157, Benicia, California  94510
visit the gallery: ARTS BENICIA GALLERY, 991 Tyler Street, Suite 114, Benicia,  California  94510
tel: 707- 747- 0131  fax: 707-747-0241
email us at: info@artsbenicia.org