BAKERSFIELD ART ASSOCIATION

The BAA is a nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to the enrichment and empowerment of local Kern County artists since before 1944.
The BAA offers members the opportunity to learn and share the excitement of art and the creative process, and to interact with other artists and the public. The BAA provides opportunities for youth and adults to recognize their artists potential through scholarships, workshop and classes. They are given the opportunities and skills necessary to evolve self expression through exhibits and juried art shows.
The BAA raises funds that are distributed as scholarships to elementary (k-8), high school (9-12), college art students, local art teachers, and professional and nonprofessional adults on an annual basis.
The BAA also provides space for members to present, display and critique their art.

Since the Art Center moved to 1607 19th Street, the BAA has increased the number of classes offered .
The involvement of many BAA members in the Kern County Fair Art Room, plus Scholarship special awards presented there, reaches out to the general public letting them know of our resources available to them at the Art Center.
We are attempting to reach out to younger developing artists. To bring them into the art community, expose them to jurying their art, exhibiting in our gallery plus outside satellite galleries at local businesses, and also to perpetuate contributions by them to the community.
BAA fundraising has expanded along with the larger space at the Art Center, offering special fundraising functions more frequently.
The Art Center location is more attractive to new exhibitors due to the fact that the gallery is all on one level as opposed to the old facility on two levels. The Art Center is brighter, more open and engaging to visitors.

With the relocation to the new Art Center at 1607 19th Street, the BAA is able to offer two (2) classes at a time, and space to accommodate forty (40) artists' work.
The space is reconfigurable to change for meetings, demonstrations or events.
A small art supply center is available to members.
Also provided is access to framing and restoration of art.

The BAA Art Center moved to its new location at 1607 19th Street in 2015, with updated lighting, lighter walls and flooring, and better presentation areas for the display of art. The location encourages better foot traffic drop-ins and is more inviting to the general public to view the art on display in the galleries at the Art Center.
The BAA Satellite Committee has added more outside venues in local businesses for member artists to display their works in the community. The number of locations has increased from six (6) to twelve (13).
A future goal might be the actual purchase of a building in the Bakersfield Downtown Arts District.
Another future goal would be to annually give out $1,000 each year to two (2) college students who are pursuing art as a career; also, to give out monetary awards to several students at the high school level possibly. four (4) awards in the amount of $250 each.