Children’s Art Studio Richmond
West County First 5 and Vallejo First 5 (First 5 family programs in Contra Costa and Solano Counties), 2707 Dover Avenue, Richmond, CA 94806
About
Children’s Art Studio Richmond offers free, quality arts-based classes where children take part in free art classes and outdoor sketching and painting workshops. The program includes outdoor sketching and painting workshops developed through Sketch Odyssey East Bay for underserved and under-resourced communities.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Price: The Children’s Art Studio Richmond provides free, quality arts-based classes to low-income children regardless of background or abilities.
The Children’s Art Studio Richmond provides free, quality arts-based classes to low-income children regardless of background or abilities and is grounded in the belief that the arts create a more just and equitable society and act as a driver for economic change. The program states that all children should have access to quality arts education and the opportunity to express themselves through art, and it recognizes the importance of inclusive environments that celebrate the unique perspectives, talents, and cultures of children. It emphasizes a child-centered approach to teaching art, with a focus on cooperation, self-help, self-discipline, and assuming responsibility for the use of materials, and it strives to foster exploration, creativity, and self-expression in each child while promoting the importance of access to the arts in the local community.
The leadership team includes Maria (Founder & Director), Adriana Paniagua (Program Specialist), Alexina Rojas (Early Childhood Educator / Advisor), and Evelyn Santos (Executive Director of the Richmond Museum of History & Culture). Maria is a graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati, served for 10 years as a full-time English faculty at Los Medanos College, and developed Sketch Odyssey East Bay as a platform to offer outdoor sketching and painting workshops to underserved and under-resourced communities. Adriana Paniagua is an early childhood educator with over a decade of experience in art education and program development, with extensive experience in family engagement, bilingual communication in English and Spanish, and a practical understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach. Alexina Rojas has served as the Director of the West County First 5 Center, a program of Bay Area Community Resources and First 5 Contra Costa, for over 16 years, has a Master’s in Educational Administration, and serves as the lead early childhood subject matter expert for this project.
Children’s Art Studio Richmond / Taller de Arte Para Niños Richmond is fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts & Media, a nonprofit dedicated to building community through media and the arts. The program serves low-income families, people of color, immigrant communities, and young people in the Richmond, California community, and it involves local artists, educators, and community members in the program to provide input and feedback and offers opportunities for participation in the program and future program planning. It works to build relationships with local artists, educators, local businesses, corporate sponsors, and non-profit organizations to keep programming relevant to the local community. The program serves First 5 families at West County First 5 and Vallejo First 5. The “Worlds Imagined by Children” Virtual Exhibition (May 18–July 20, 2025, at the Richmond Museum of History & Culture) showcased diverse prints, paintings, and sculptures created by Richmond’s young artists.
Caregivers and parents describe their children enjoying painting, mixing colors, and using different materials such as balloons and paper rolls to paint, and some note that repeating colors has helped their children learn color names and that the program has given them more ideas for art activities to do at home. One parent shared that the program allowed their family to enjoy art in their own neighborhood when there were not many other options available.
Last updated May 10, 2026.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Price: The Children’s Art Studio Richmond provides free, quality arts-based classes to low-income children regardless of background or abilities.
The Children’s Art Studio Richmond provides free, quality arts-based classes to low-income children regardless of background or abilities and is grounded in the belief that the arts create a more just and equitable society and act as a driver for economic change. The program states that all children should have access to quality arts education and the opportunity to express themselves through art, and it recognizes the importance of inclusive environments that celebrate the unique perspectives, talents, and cultures of children. It emphasizes a child-centered approach to teaching art, with a focus on cooperation, self-help, self-discipline, and assuming responsibility for the use of materials, and it strives to foster exploration, creativity, and self-expression in each child while promoting the importance of access to the arts in the local community.
The leadership team includes Maria (Founder & Director), Adriana Paniagua (Program Specialist), Alexina Rojas (Early Childhood Educator / Advisor), and Evelyn Santos (Executive Director of the Richmond Museum of History & Culture). Maria is a graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati, served for 10 years as a full-time English faculty at Los Medanos College, and developed Sketch Odyssey East Bay as a platform to offer outdoor sketching and painting workshops to underserved and under-resourced communities. Adriana Paniagua is an early childhood educator with over a decade of experience in art education and program development, with extensive experience in family engagement, bilingual communication in English and Spanish, and a practical understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach. Alexina Rojas has served as the Director of the West County First 5 Center, a program of Bay Area Community Resources and First 5 Contra Costa, for over 16 years, has a Master’s in Educational Administration, and serves as the lead early childhood subject matter expert for this project.
Children’s Art Studio Richmond / Taller de Arte Para Niños Richmond is fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts & Media, a nonprofit dedicated to building community through media and the arts. The program serves low-income families, people of color, immigrant communities, and young people in the Richmond, California community, and it involves local artists, educators, and community members in the program to provide input and feedback and offers opportunities for participation in the program and future program planning. It works to build relationships with local artists, educators, local businesses, corporate sponsors, and non-profit organizations to keep programming relevant to the local community. The program serves First 5 families at West County First 5 and Vallejo First 5. The “Worlds Imagined by Children” Virtual Exhibition (May 18–July 20, 2025, at the Richmond Museum of History & Culture) showcased diverse prints, paintings, and sculptures created by Richmond’s young artists.
Caregivers and parents describe their children enjoying painting, mixing colors, and using different materials such as balloons and paper rolls to paint, and some note that repeating colors has helped their children learn color names and that the program has given them more ideas for art activities to do at home. One parent shared that the program allowed their family to enjoy art in their own neighborhood when there were not many other options available.
Last updated May 10, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.