Our Vision
The Redwood Art Association is a community dedicated to the creation of art as an important and indispensable part of life and the economy of Humboldt County.

Our Mission
Our mission is to serve our artists and their art by providing resources for exhibitions and education. The Redwood Art Association rallies resources for the promotion of art as a valuable asset in educational, social, cultural and economic development. We provide leadership to inspire the use of these resources for the creation of leading-edge possibilities to enrich our community.

Our Values
The Redwood Art Association is a community of artists and supporters who value art as an essential component of every aspect of our culture. We are a community that acknowledges and supports its members, nurtures artistic creativity, provides innovative and leading-edge ideas to inspire its members, dialogs and collaborates with its membership and other communities, and believes in positive action to create results.

To advance our mission, we will:

Communicate

• Create and communicate a sense of vision that represents our membership.
• Network with other organizations, businesses and governmental agencies.
• Tell the world of our intent to be a destination point for lovers of the ARTS.

Develop

• Have a permanent gallery space to accommodate large exhibitions for our members.
• Grow a sound financial base.
• Increase our membership numbers to create a greater voice within our community.
• Continue to build an experienced, talented, energetic and creative Board of Directors.
• Relate to young and emerging artists.

Lead

• Focus on the total experience of art, both creating it and enjoying it.
• Create venues that enhance the art experience.
• Provide a leading-edge vision of art in our community.
• Reach out, collaborate and cooperate.

Empower

• Create conditions that establish success for exhibitions, sales and production of art.
• Create workshops, lectures and presentations that enhance our appreciation of art.
• Promote artists and their value to the world.

Background
The Redwood Art Association was founded in 1956 by a group of local artists with a goal of promoting visual art in our community. In 2006, we celebrated our 50th Anniversary and honored our long history and those who contributed to the strength and vitality of the Association for these many years.

The RAA Board is currently working to redefine our organization as we start our 52nd year. There is much curiosity about how we could be a more member-oriented association with a vibrant, committed and involved membership.

The Vision and Mission statements serve as our springboard as we explore ways we can collaborate together and with other organizations to nurture our artistic creativity, to be inspired, and to create a greater voice for art within our community. We are also moving to find a permanent solution for our Summer and Fall Exhibition venues.

Your membership is the key to the accomplishment of our Vision and Mission. We invite you to raise your voice with our other members in supporting art in our community.

Activities
The Redwood Art Association organizes and promotes three large art exhibitions each year. This is our most important member benefit.

SPRING EXHIBITION: A juried show at the Morris Graves Museum of Art professionally judged with over $2000 in prizes awarded to our artist members.

SUMMER EXHIBITION: An all-member show.

FALL EXHIBITION: An all-member show professionally judged with over $2000 in prizes awarded to our artist members.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND: The RAA maintains a perpetual art scholarship fund for art majors at College of the Redwoods. A portion of proceeds from fund-raising activities plus contributions from our members are added each year to this fund.

SPECIAL EXHIBITS: The RAA curates exhibits for the Hagopian Gallery on the second-floor of the Humboldt County Library.

WORKSHOPS: Art workshops taught by recognized local or regional artists/instructors.

LECTURES: Occasional talks by well-known local or out-of-the-area artists and art authorities on their work and working procedures.