Ready, Set, Spring! Arts Benicia Spring Auction

Thank you for participating in Ready, Set, Spring! Arts Benicia's spring online auction benefiting local artists and Arts Benicia. The auction is an important fundraiser for Arts Benicia, providing essential funding for education, exhibition, and outreach programs that support the arts in our region. For more information about Arts Benicia's programs, please visit https://artsbenicia.org/

In addition to our generous sponsors listed below, for buyers who may need framing services, Mike Moretti of the Art of Picture Framing has agreed to give Arts Benicia 10% of each framing sale that comes from the auction. Contact him at Art of Picture Framing, 1033 Shary Circle, Concord, California 94518, (925) 689-5177, or see their website at https://artofpictureframing.com/

Arts Benicia’s mission is to stimulate, educate, and nurture cultural life in Benicia primarily through the visual arts. This community based non-profit organization provides exhibitions, educational programs, and classes that support artists and engage the broader community.

Arts Benicia is the hub of a large community of talented artists in the Bay Area and beyond. We produce high quality exhibitions in a 2,400-square-foot space in the historic Arsenal, acquired in 1993. Our dynamic exhibition schedule features the work of both regional and national artists, providing opportunities for artists to show and sell their work. Arts Benicia is supported by membership, grants, sponsorships, individual donations, and fundraising events. There is no admission charge to see exhibits.

Arts Benicia's gallery and in-person education programs have been closed since March 2020 when a shelter-in-place directive in Solano County and California was enacted in response to COVID-19. While our tradition has been an in-person delivery of programs, we have pivoted to working from home to produce online exhibitions and classes for both youth and adults. Our classes and exhibitions pages can be viewed at artsbenicia.org.

Despite this pivot, our revenue from programs over the past year has dramatically declined. We have sought grants and relief and loan funds, cut operating expenses and staffing by over 60%, and taken advantage of any opportunities to secure revenue to support programs and keep operating.

We are greatly appreciative of the efforts of our community to pitch in with donations and fundraising events, such as this auction, to close the funding gap for Arts Benicia. Please accept our thanks in advance for your participation in this auction.