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About Creativity Explored
Creativity Explored is a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art. We are committed to supporting people with developmental disabilities to become working artists, and to promoting their work as an emerging and increasingly important contribution to the professional art world. Creativity Explored provides workspace and materials in ongoing studio sessions facilitated by a team of professional artists who provide support and assistance to studio artists. Creativity Explored also operates a professional exhibitions program that promotes our studio artists’ work to a wide array of local, regional, national, and international exhibition venues including commercial galleries, and corporate and public spaces.
Creativity Explored studio artists come from diverse backgrounds and bring with them a wide variety and range of experience, ability, and sensibilities. Some of our artists just turned twenty years old, while others are in their eighties. Some have lived lives of previous isolation or institutionalization, while others have lived their entire lives with their families in a supportive and accepting environment. Many of our studio artists speak different languages, or do not speak, and are unable to communicate with each other using spoken language. At Creativity Explored, visual art is language everyone can use to share culture, experience, and feelings.
At Creativity Explored, uncensored self-expression is both encouraged and celebrated. The result is art that is fresh, exciting, and innovative. We invite you to share our collective experience, to participate in our community, and to benefit from the significant contributions made by artists with disabilities to the cultural life of the broader community. Our common thread is the basic need to express self, and the tapestry we weave using art is a strong, durable community rich in color, form, and context. We invite you to become a part of our community.
Our Mission
Creativity Explored enables adults with developmental disabilities to express themselves artistically in a way that is personally rewarding and appreciated by others. We work to enrich the community by increasing awareness of the value and diversity of artistic expression.
Beliefs
- All people are creative, given a supportive environment.
- Creative expression fosters personal growth.
- Self-worth, a sense of purpose, and community are essential for all people.
- Visual art is language everyone can use.
- Disability is not a boundary.
- Art making is a viable career path.
Goals
CE is an innovative, progressive and outcome-oriented program designed to:
- Assist people with developmental disabilities to integrate into visual arts activities at CE,
and in the Bay Area arts community; - Advocate for the artistic and human rights of people with disabilities;
- Encourage and assist people with disabilities to fulfill their lifelong ambitions through the
creative process, and to pursue a career in the visual arts; - Support and assist individual artists with developmental disabilities to professionally
exhibit and market their work, and earn income from the sale of their work.; - Assist and develop a person’s growth and creative ability through increased opportunity
to experiment with different media, techniques and materials; and to associate and
collaborate with other artists at CE and in the community; and, - Use the visual arts to develop awareness of a person’s significance within the broader
community.
General Purpose of Services
The purpose of all services provided by Creativity Explored is to provide people with
developmental disabilities the opportunity to express themselves through the creation of art. Additionally, Creativity Explored provides artists with developmental disabilities the opportunity to earn income from the sale of their artwork and to pursue a livelihood as a visual artist to the fullest extent possible.
It is our intent to support individuals with developmental disabilities who wish to become self-employed artists to create and operate fully viable and profitable businesses that give them a source of income, status, more control over their life, and a sense of accomplishment which will improve the quality of the individual’s life.
Our History
Creativity Explored was founded in 1983 by Florence and Elias Katz, on the principle that all people have the ability to create, and that visual artistic expression is a viable means to self-growth. Since that date, people with disabilities working at Creativity Explored have established themselves as talented artists making significant contributions to the Bay Area.
Our second studio site (CE2) was opened in 1995 to provide adults with severe disabilities an opportunity to create visual art. It has afforded both Creativity Explored and the public the opportunity to expand our understanding of the importance of art in the lives of people with disabilities.
People have been able to view and purchase art in our studios since Creativity Explored’s inception. Our on-site gallery officially opened in March 2001. Art created by studio artists is becoming increasingly popular, and Creativity Explored’s audience continues to grow steadily, and sales of original art created by artists working in our studios increases each year. Based on our experience over the last five years, we have seen that income realized from the sale of art has become significant for some of the artists working in our studios, and that art making has become a viable career path for those who choose to pursue this livelihood. Because of our successful efforts to advocate for the artistic talents of artists with developmental disabilities, studio artists are now becoming increasingly recognized for making significant contributions to the Bay Area arts scene and beyond.
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Our Programs
Creativity Explored offers a number of programs to designed to maximize each studio artists’ art making experience. We have recently expanded our programs to encourage our artists to move beyond mere presence in the Bay Area arts community to full participation. Art making is traditionally an isolated activity, and we offer opportunities for artists to interact with others — when making and marketing art. We model ourselves after an artists’ collective affording studio artists opportunities to work individually or collaboratively with other studio artists and/or artists in the community.
The studio operates five days a week and is open to any interested adult with a developmental disability. A person seeking services does not need prior art making experience, but rather needs to demonstrate an interest in becoming involved with the creative process. We have encouraged people with a wide range of skills and abilities to find their own artistic voice and to pursue themes of personal interest. Our four core programs are described briefly below.
Studio Arts Program
Creativity Explored provides studio artists workspace, instruction, and opportunities to explore a wide variety of media. Studio artists choose media and subject matter. Trained professional artists are available to assist each studio artist in exploring the creative process. Printmaking, painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and fabric art are included in a program designed to meet the needs, choices, and preferences of each studio artist.
Learn about the artists who work at CE →
Learn more about becoming a Studio Artist →
Community Arts Program
Creativity Explored provides studio artists opportunities to visit Bay Area museums, galleries, and local artists’ studios. Groups of four studio artists are accompanied by an art instructor to experience and participate in the Bay Area arts community.
Guest Artists Program
Local artists teach two-month workshops and give studio artists a chance to experiment with a wide variety of media and learn new techniques. Workshops have included creating wearable art, linocut printing techniques, fabric printing techniques, figure drawing, papier mache vessel building, and found object sculpture.
Additionally, artists from around the world have collaborated with Creativity Explored studio artists to create murals, installations, and other artwork. These collaborations have occurred within the studio as well as throughout the community. Collaborative projects have been funded by private and public foundations and have been exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally.
Exhibitions Program
Creativity Explored professionally exhibits and markets artwork created by artists working in our studios. Exhibitions occur on a regular basis in our on-site gallery, off-site in private and public galleries, and in corporate and community spaces throughout the Bay Area. Exhibitions of artwork enhance the personal growth and professional esteem of studio artists, and often provide earned income from the sale of their artwork. Marketing their own work and understanding the business of arts marketing is difficult for many artists. Due to the nature of their disability, many Creativity Explored studio artists require additional support to navigate the world of gallerists and dealers, legal contracts and agreements to protect artists’ interests, and to avoid general exploitation.
Creativity Explored’s studio and gallery now enjoy a highly visible presence in the Bay Area. Readers of the Bay Guardian and the SF Weekly voted the CE Gallery as “Best Gallery” for many years, and people wait in line to attend some opening receptions and sales. We have recently started promoting individual artists in mainstream gallery exhibitions to ensure a continuing presence in, and involvement with, the wider community.
Explore Gallery Exhibitions →
Explore Gallery & Studio Events →
Explore Art Sales →
Fundraising Events
Each year we host a fundraising event to raise awareness of Creativity Explored and to bring in money to support our core programs.
Explore Fundraising Events →
View art from previous Fundraising Events →
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are visitors welcome?
- Who are your studio artists?
- How many studio artists do you have?
- Who is eligible to become a studio artist?
- How many staff members do you have?
- How are you structured?
- How are you funded?
- If I buy art, where does the money go?
- If I donate money, how is it used?
Are visitors welcome?
Absolutely! No appointment is necessary and visitors are always welcome. We ask that you contact us to make an appointment if you are interested in an in-depth tour, or if you are coming with a group of more than five people.
Who are your studio artists?
All of our studio artists have a developmental disability and an interest in art. Many of our studio artists experience additional disabilities such as mental illness, emotional disturbances, and/or physical disabilities. Currently, our youngest artist just turned 20, and our oldest is 82. Artists joining our studio come from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and bring with them a wide range of ability and experience.
Learn about the artists who work at CE →
How many studio artists do you have?
We have about 125 studio artists working in our two studios. Some studio artists create art on a part-time basis, while some work in the studio full-time. On most days, about 60 people make art in our 3245 16th Street studio, and about 20 people work in our One Arkansas Street studio.
Learn about the artists who work at CE →
Who is eligible to become a studio artist?
Any adult with a developmental disability in the Bay Area may apply. You must have the ability to purchase services, either through private means, or be eligible to receive funding through the California Regional Center Developmental Disabilities System.
Learn more about becoming a studio artist →
How many staff members do you have?
Creativity Explored employs about 20 professional artists to facilitate the artmaking process in our two studios. Three people work in the gallery and provide administrative and program support. City College of San Francisco provides two professional artists as teaching staff to help us meet our goals. Volunteers and interns also contribute in numerous ways to our successful program implementation.
Learn more about our staff and teaching artists →
How are you structured?
Creativity Explored is a private, nonprofit entity incorporated by the State of California, governed by a twelve member volunteer Board of Directors. The Board of Directors employs an Executive Director who is responsible for carrying out the policies of the Board of Directors, administering agency programs, and managing agency personnel.
How are you funded?
70% of our income is realized from fees paid by Golden Gate Regional Center to purchase our services. 10% of our income is generated from the sale of original art and art products (t-shirts, notecards, books, DVDs, etc.). Grants for specific program initiatives and general operating expenses from private and public foundations, gifts, individual and business contributions, and fundraising events make up the remaining 20%.
If I buy art, where does the money go?
Proceeds from sales of original art are shared equally by the studio artist and Creativity Explored. Creativity Explored’s share covers slightly less than 10% of our operating budget.
If I donate money, how is it used?
Your money may be used to fund a core program as described above, or a project. Your suppport may be directed toward purchasing high-quality art supplies, tools or equipment, exhibition expenses, such as framing supplies, or brochures and invitations. Some of our operating expenses are not as apparent, such as costs to hire a bookkeeper and janitor, pay the rent, and pay for utilities or postage.
Megan Saperstein, teaching artist, and Loren King, studio artist
Want to become a Studio Artist?
Learn how you can get involved with CE.
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