Company Description

Our Mission:
We advocate for the arts and for increased arts instruction in schools. We foster community development through the arts, serving county artists, arts organizations and the general public through partnerships with arts supporters, businesses, foundations, and community leaders. We embrace the diversity of our county and strive to reach low income and minority communities with programs designed to engage these diverse populations.

Our Venue:
The Atrium Gallery is located in the Hall of Administration at the Ventura County Government Center complex in Ventura, CA. It spans three floors and some 400 linear feet of display space. The Gallery receives some 3,000 visitors a day (plus employees) who circulate through the Gallery while conducting business Monday through Friday. It is one of the largest galleries in the County and likely receives the most visitors. The Gallery hosts art shows continuously with only one “down” day as a new show is installed. The Gallery is managed with no financial support from the County. All the staffing, installation hardware, and awards are provided by the Arts Council. Work must be broadly appropriate for a public work place. Sales of artwork is coordinated through the Gallery Coordinator.

Our History:
In 1982 the Ventura County Board of Supervisors established the Ventura County Arts Commission but was unable to implement its county-wide arts plan. In 1992, the Ventura County Community Foundation created an updated arts plan which it was unable to implement. Subsequently, in 1997 the Ventura County Arts Council was formed and incorporated as an independent 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization. Its charge was to serve all Ventura County residents with an array of arts programs. The Council was designated as the State/Local Partner, making VCAC local arts agency designated by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to serve the county’s citizens in partnership with the California Arts Council.

Products & Services

Reaching low income and minority communities with programs designed to engage these diverse populations ,   Poet Laureate ,   Grants ,   Atrium Gallery ,   Arts instruction in schools ,   public art ,   Community development through the arts ,   resources ,   Arts & Youth Justice ,   Artists in the Classroom ,   Youth Poet Laureate ,   Advocacy for the arts ,   Poetry Out Loud ,   Partnerships with arts supporters, businesses, foundations, and community leaders