6th Street Studios & Art Center Art Classes and Camps

6th Street Studios & Art Center Art Classes & Camps offers art classes, art camps, and art parties, along with youth and adult art classes, a Spring Break Art Camp, and a Summer Camp. The program also includes monthly art exhibitions in the main studio, a monthly virtual sale showcasing local artists, and art exhibitions connected to Art Walk and Art Markets. Families may also encounter cultural performances such as Flamenco, Latin Dance, Jazz, and Choir as part of the broader activities, as well as holiday boutiques and fair booths for local artists.

• Schedule: Open hours Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–2:00 pm (closed Wednesdays)

6th Street Studios & Art Center began as the community outreach and performance arm of Gallery 1202 at the end of 2019 and became an official non-profit with a permanent location in 2021. In 2022, the Studios launched its educational programming with Spring Break Art Camp, followed by youth and adult art classes and a Summer Camp, and also established a Youth Mentorship program that year with support from a grant from the Gilroy Foundation. The organization states that it supports local artists and arts education in the South Valley region of Silicon Valley by providing affordable access to creative spaces, art classes, art instructional opportunities, and cultural activities, and that it offers employment through Education and Youth Mentorship Programs as well as volunteer opportunities. It reports having organized over 20 free public art events, including the monthly Art Walk, Art Markets, and exhibitions, and notes that a 6th Street Co-Op community studio space and co-op opportunities are coming soon.

Founder Emily McEwan-Upright is described as a tax whiz by day and arts champion by night and previously founded 1202 Contemporary and 6th Street Studios, and has organized culturally significant performances. Director Paula Giannoni has a BA in Sociology with a concentration in Community Change and over 12 years of experience in community engagement and management. Studio/Program Manager Johnathan Geronimo is a lifelong artist specializing in mixed media painting with a BA in Integrative Psychology and 8 years of experience in education across alternative, special, and general education settings. Instructor and volunteer Anika Mathewson is a trained accountant with over four years of experience in a tax firm and more than ten years of experience as a fiber artist. Instructor Rhyan Maldonado is a photographer with experience in portraits, concerts, and product photography and holds a BFA in Photography from San Jose State University. Board member and ceramics teacher Federico Saldana teaches ceramics at Gilroy High School, holds a BA in film from San Francisco State, has teaching credentials from San Jose State, and has dedicated 19 years to education. Board member Bonnie Waldman has been a Lead Speech Language Pathologist for 23 years, and board member Jonathan Gonzalez also serves on the board at Youth Alliance.

Last updated March 19, 2026.