Frequently Asked Questions
OUR PURPOSE
Rancho Cordova Arts promotes and develops the visual arts in Rancho Cordova through inspiring programs, events and classes.
We are a community of artists and lovers of art, always growing in our art knowledge, and sharing in the camaraderie of a shared vision to bring visual art experiences to the people of our community.
OUR FOUNDING
Cordova Community Council (CCC) invited local artists to start meeting regularly in 2011, putting out the first ‘Call for Artists’ for the ‘Genesis’ show at Rancho Cordova City Hall in 2011. City Hall has been the venue for four juried art shows each year since then. Over the years, CCC was instrumental in incubating the group and expanding its capacity. They sponsored a facilitated off-site meeting in February 2018, at which attendees determined the purpose of the city’s visual arts organization, how it would be organized, and who would be on the board.
A Community Enhancement Fund grant enabled the process of becoming a non-profit. Rancho Cordova Arts was granted status as a 501(c)3 public benefit charity nonprofit corporation on April 20, 2018.
The opening of the MACC (Mills Station Arts & Culture Center) (soft opening at the Holiday Pop-Up Art Gallery, December 2017) gave us an historic structure located at the Mather/Mills Light Rail Station, a place to meet, show art and provide artist workshops.
BYLAWS
Click HERE for a summary of our bylaws.
ROLES OF RANCHO CORDOVA ARTS & CORDOVA COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Art Shows at City Hall:
Cordova Community Council sponsors four juried art exhibits at City Hall each year. Rancho Cordova Arts provides volunteers to curate and hang the shows [when it is safe to do so during this pandemic]. Each summer, Rancho Cordova Arts receives art show theme ideas from members, then recommends the top three themes to Cordova Community Council for the next calendar year.
Public Events:
Cordova Community Council sponsors the largest public events in Rancho Cordova, such as Kids’ Day, iFest (International Festival), Fourth of July, Tree Lighting and the Holiday Lights Drive-Through event. Cordova Community Council sponsors Rancho Cordova Arts so that we may participate in these events and provide free art activities to enrich the lives of the people of our city.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP?
Member listing on RanchoCordovaArts.org, including name, email and website
Previews to new exhibits at the MACC (Mills Station Arts & Culture Center)
Reduced fee for workshops and classes sponsored by Rancho Cordova Arts
Reduced vendor fees at Rancho Cordova Arts-sponsored art fairs and pop-ups
Emailed quarterly ‘On the Easel’ newsletter
Annual Member Art Exhibit in summer at the MACC, with each member guaranteed at least one piece juried into the show. (Next show will be June 2022.)
Your membership in Rancho Cordova Arts qualifies you as having a connection to Rancho Cordova for the purpose of showing your art at City Hall.
WHAT ACTIVITIES DO WE SUPPORT?
Rancho Cordova Arts provides free art activities and experiences for the public at public events such as Kids Day, Art Fest, and the Holiday Lights drive-through event.
We provide access to free educational videos and printed materials in our Learning Library.
We hold free art workshops [online at this time, and in person once it is safe again to do so].
We provide art fests, such as Winter Art Fest (formerly the Holiday Pop-Up Art Gallery), and Brushes & Beats (new in October 2021).
Rancho Cordova Arts started the Kathy Young Ross Art Book Lending Library at the MACC (Mills Station Arts & Culture Center). We accept all donations of art books at the MACC. If you’d like to donate your unused art books during the MACC’s open hours, please leave your name if you would like to be acknowledged on the bookplate: “Gift from [Your Name]”. For more information, contact Cheryl@CordovaCouncil.org.
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
Stop by the MACC during gallery hours and talk to the docents about in-person opportunities to be involved, check out opportunities to volunteer, or contact us! We’re happy to talk with you!
HOW CAN A MEMBER ADVERTISE AN ART CLASS THEY ARE TEACHING?
Board Policy: Member Advertising
Members can always advertise classes and workshops in the Member Directory at no charge by having a referral to their website in their member bio.
In May 2019, the board voted to offer free advertising on RanchoCordovaArts.org for a limited number of classes per year if they meet all four of these criteria:
Class must be free to the public.
Class must be held in Rancho Cordova.
Teacher must be a member of Rancho Cordova Arts.
Advertisement must state, "This is not a Rancho Cordova Arts event.”