Creative Growth Art Center Youth Program
Creative Growth Art Center, 355 24th Street, Oakland, CA 94612
About
Creative Growth Art Center Youth Program includes hands-on art activities such as Painting & Drawing, Textiles, Fiber Arts, Mixed Media & Ceramics, Rugs, Wood, and Jewelry Making. Studio instructors lead specific areas, including Painting & Drawing, Textiles, Fiber Arts, Painting, Mixed Media & Ceramics, Rugs, Wood, and Jewelry Making.
• Schedule: Gallery hours Wednesday–Saturday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Creative Growth Art Center was established in 1973 as a non-profit organization. Its mission is to advance the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in contemporary art and to strengthen community by providing a supportive studio environment and gallery representation. The organization is internationally recognized and is the world's first independent art center dedicated to advancing the careers of artists with developmental, mental, and physical disabilities. It supports 140 artists, many of whom have decades-long studio practices and exhibit in museums, galleries, and public collections around the world. Creative Growth Art Center participates in the VOLTA Basel Art Fair held alongside Art Basel and Basel Art Week. The organization presents a signature exhibition called the "Home Show," which features artistic home decor such as custom lamps, looped rugs, wall-art turned-lighting, fiber-wrapped coffee tables, wall weavings, and ceramic dishware.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Sunny A. Smith, Gallery Director Nadia Ghani, Managing Director Amelia Whittlesey, Development Director Jennifer Cesario, Interim Marketing and Sales Director Quinn Dukes, Human Resources Director Priscilla Nunez, Artist Care Manager Charlotte Moses, Operations Manager Jo Sullivan, Gallery Manager Martin Segobia, Studio Manager Alina Tully, Volunteer and Events Coordinator Arielle Berrick, and Beyond Trend Coordinator Amy Keefer. Studio instructors include Madelyn Covey (Painting & Drawing; Youth Program Coordinator), Amy Keefer (Textiles), Anne Meade Paden (Fiber Arts), Julie Plasencia (Painting & Drawing), Veronica Rojas (Painting), Adrianna Sorondo (Mixed Media & Ceramics), Tara Tucker (Rugs), David Wiley (Wood), and Josie Porter (Jewelry Making). Board members are President Michael Breland, Vice-President Charmin Baaqee, Treasurer Sydney Walker, Secretary Myeisha Williams, sitting members Erica Tanov, Katherine Sherwood, James Spindler, and Cara Levine, and emeritus members Jane Timberlake and Stephen Walrod.
Creative Growth Art Center has been described by Katy Siegel of SFMOMA, who stated, "I cannot think of a more important art institution in the United States. They pioneered the whole model of working with artists with disabilities."
Last updated July 2, 2026.
• Schedule: Gallery hours Wednesday–Saturday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Creative Growth Art Center was established in 1973 as a non-profit organization. Its mission is to advance the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in contemporary art and to strengthen community by providing a supportive studio environment and gallery representation. The organization is internationally recognized and is the world's first independent art center dedicated to advancing the careers of artists with developmental, mental, and physical disabilities. It supports 140 artists, many of whom have decades-long studio practices and exhibit in museums, galleries, and public collections around the world. Creative Growth Art Center participates in the VOLTA Basel Art Fair held alongside Art Basel and Basel Art Week. The organization presents a signature exhibition called the "Home Show," which features artistic home decor such as custom lamps, looped rugs, wall-art turned-lighting, fiber-wrapped coffee tables, wall weavings, and ceramic dishware.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Sunny A. Smith, Gallery Director Nadia Ghani, Managing Director Amelia Whittlesey, Development Director Jennifer Cesario, Interim Marketing and Sales Director Quinn Dukes, Human Resources Director Priscilla Nunez, Artist Care Manager Charlotte Moses, Operations Manager Jo Sullivan, Gallery Manager Martin Segobia, Studio Manager Alina Tully, Volunteer and Events Coordinator Arielle Berrick, and Beyond Trend Coordinator Amy Keefer. Studio instructors include Madelyn Covey (Painting & Drawing; Youth Program Coordinator), Amy Keefer (Textiles), Anne Meade Paden (Fiber Arts), Julie Plasencia (Painting & Drawing), Veronica Rojas (Painting), Adrianna Sorondo (Mixed Media & Ceramics), Tara Tucker (Rugs), David Wiley (Wood), and Josie Porter (Jewelry Making). Board members are President Michael Breland, Vice-President Charmin Baaqee, Treasurer Sydney Walker, Secretary Myeisha Williams, sitting members Erica Tanov, Katherine Sherwood, James Spindler, and Cara Levine, and emeritus members Jane Timberlake and Stephen Walrod.
Creative Growth Art Center has been described by Katy Siegel of SFMOMA, who stated, "I cannot think of a more important art institution in the United States. They pioneered the whole model of working with artists with disabilities."
Last updated July 2, 2026.
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