ART WORKS DOWNTOWN INC
Mission
Art Works Downtown Mission: To provide an environment for visual arts to thrive for the well-being of community. Art Works Downtown exists to broaden and deepen our community's engagement with art. We work to connect artists and the public by providing affordable studio, housing and exhibition space; business opportunities and professional support for artists and arts organizations; and education and outreach for the public. Everything we do serves to strengthen the creative fabric of the local community and promote art as a vital part of public life in San Rafael, Marin County and beyond.
Ruling year
1997
Principal Officer
Elisabeth Setten
Main address
1337 4TH St
San Rafael, CA 94901 USA
EIN
68-0387761
NTEE code
Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Founded in 1996, Art Works Downtown (AWD)’s mission is to provide an environment where visual arts thrive for the well-being of the community. We envision both a place and a mindset that fosters belonging, collaboration and creativity in a thriving arts community to benefit the San Rafael community as well as greater Marin County and beyond. Headquartered in a 19th-century historical building on Fourth Street, our comprehensive approach is centered on ‘creative place keeping’ to ensure that artists and the public have a venue to discuss ideas, build community, make art, and celebrate creativity. AWD’s vibrant arts scene is alive on Fourth Street. The lights are on, people gather, and all are welcomed to connect with the visual arts — to create it, examine it, discuss it and debate the ideas sparked by it. We consider art, community expression, and connection essential for a thriving society.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Visual Art Exhibitions
Exhibitions
• Gallery 1337
• Guest Galleries
o Underground Gallery
o Founders’ Gallery
o Donors’ Gallery
• Artist Wall
• AWD 1337 Window Display (Artists’ window)
• Murals and long-term exhibits
• Auxiliary Galleries (outside of AWD facility)
2nd Friday Art Walk
Free to the public, enjoy galleries, open studios, art exhibits, and more on the second Friday of each month. Anchored by the Art Works Downtown galleries and studio tour, the 2nd Friday Art Walk connects art venues throughout downtown San Rafael for an evening of inspiration and community.
The Max Thelen Studio Residency
The Max Thelen Studio is a studio residency program generously funded by the Fenwick Foundation in commemoration of Max Thelen Jr. The residency aims to support emerging artists by providing free studio space, exhibition opportunity, and exposure to the public for one year.
AWD Artist Membership
The Artist Membership Program is designed to welcome working artists from the San Francisco Bay Area—who live within 100 miles from San Rafael, California—to the Art Works Downtown community through exhibits, events, workshops, and other creative endeavors.
AWD Studio Artist Program
Art Works Downtown offers 40,000 sq ft of space devoted to artistic activities. Our 35+ art studios house a wide variety of individual artists working in many media, as well as arts organizations.
Downtown San Rafael Arts District
AWD led a six-year campaign that crowned San Rafael as a ‘California state-designated Arts District’ (DSRAD) by the CA Arts Council — one of only 14 cities in the state — designating San Rafael as the place to go for arts and culture. With our stakeholders, led the Downtown San Rafael Arts District Launch on October 13, 2023.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of audience members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Visual Art Exhibitions
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2022 (post-covid 19) visitors to the Art Works Downtown art center including artists and members of the general public is 4350 from February 2022 to September 27, 2022.
Number of competition winners declared
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Visual Art Exhibitions
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The Max Thelen Studio Residency provides a quality art space for an emerging artist to create artwork and receive community support.
Number of accolades/recognition received from third-party organizations
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Visual Art Exhibitions
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Our current visual art gallery exhibition strategy has resulted in consecutive recognition as Best Art Gallery in North Bay media.
Number of donations made by board members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
AWD aims for 100% board member giving. In 2021, board dues were eliminated to reduce barriers to entry and enhance diversity in decision-making.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Four Focus Areas:
Thriving Visual Arts
Community Engagement
Stronger Organization
Building Infrastructure
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Multiple Focus Areas, Goals and Strategies are posted 2021-2024 AWD Strategic Plan.
For example, Focus Area Three, Stronger organization: Board Development
AWD has achieved its goal metric: 7 board members as of 2022.
The goal was achieved by professionalizing the AWD board process through various
steps, including updating board member descriptions, reviewing the application
process, updating AWD board bylaws, establishing a meeting location for board
members and guests on the 2nd Friday Art Walk (on hold in 2023 due to capacity
issues), and creating a Needs Matrix of Desired Board Skills to ensure new members
contribute valuable skills such as marketing and business expertise.
Board Dues were disbanded to make the board more accessible and to encourage diversity.
Please reach out to [email protected] to learn more about the strategic plan and the goals AWD is currently accomplishing.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
To boost organizational effectiveness, a board and staff mapping process was created in 2022 to monitor strategic plan goals.
Strategic goals were integrated into Asana workflow for staff and board monitoring, and they're publicly communicated via a shared Canva deck to promote transparency in the strategic planning process.
Share with stakeholders to boost community engagement and understanding of arts program priorities.
New for 2024:
Stakeholder meeting to review progress and set 2024 goals, 2/24
Draft recommendations for 2025 Strategic Plan: 7/24
Compile recommendations for integration into new plan: 8/24 (BUDGET)
Finalize 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, 11/24
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
AWD has established an effective and efficient strategic work plan/mapping process to best communicate with board and staff. This is an organic, ongoing process.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
ART WORKS DOWNTOWN INC
Board of directorsas of 11/21/2023
Jennifer Burrell
Tobi Lessem
Terry Lofrano
Will Toff
Michelle Bushneff
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
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