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Center for Creativity
Center for Creativity

In San Mateo County

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About Us

Center for Creativity at Hotel Sequoia, 800 Main Street (at Broadway), Redwood City

The Center for Ceativity in San Mateo County is a grassroots effort by passionate people who believe in the power of art.

In 2010 we formed ARTS RWC—a roundtable of artists, art advocates, art organizations and civic leaders with a mission to advance Redwood City as a vibrant and sustainable arts community. We identified the need for a permanent arts center that provides access for all to the arts in our city and county.

In 2022, we established a formal Steering Committee to conduct research, develop plans, and rally support for a permanent Center for Creativity.

The steering committee includes members of ARTS RWC, the Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation, Art Bias, the Redwood City Arts Commission and civic leaders.

We’re always seeking the help of dedicated volunteers to bring our mission to reality. If you’re interested in learning more about our committee members and the work we do, please contact us.

Contact Us

CENTER FOR CREATIVITY STEERING COMMITTEE

Stacey Ardelean

Founding Artistic Director of Fuse Theatre

Jill Asher

Co-Founder of Magical Bridge Foundation

Ian Bain

Former Redwood City Mayor and artist

Sheila Cepero

VP of Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation

Tara de la Garza

Artist, Curator and Creative Director of Inventurous

Terra Fuller

Executive Director of Art Bias

Dani Gasparini

Former Redwood City Mayor, a downtown property owner

Elizabeth Góme

Redwood City community artist

Sandra Keely

Redwood City Arts Commissioner

Lucy Larson

Director of Education, Palo Alto Art Center

Kent Manske

Artist and cultural worker

Beth Mostovoy

Artist and Founder of ARTS RWC

Jason Newblanc

Redwood City Arts Commissioner

Susie Peyton

Former board member of Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation

Barbara Pierce

Former Redwood City Mayor and former board member of Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation

VC Tang

Author, interdisciplinary artist and culture bearer

SUPPORTERS OF OUR VISION

Organizations, Groups, Businesses

Art Bias

Art in Action

Art Kiosk

ART on the Square

Bay Area Photographers Collective

BraveMaker

Casa Circulo Cultural

Chamber San Mateo County

Culture Collective NFO / Cultural

Collectivo de NFO (CCNFO)

Dragon Productions

Fung Collaboratives

Fuse Theatre

Kainos

Linden Street Warehouse Artist Studios

Magical Bridge Foundation

North Fair Oaks Community Alliance

Peninsula Hills Women’s Club

Project 275

Redwood City Arts Commission

Redwood City Boys & Girls Club

Redwood City Education Foundation

Redwood City Elementary School District

Redwood City Girl Scouts Service Unit 392

Redwood City Improvement Association (RCIA)

Redwood City Library Foundation

Redwood City PAL

Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation

Redwood City Woman’s Club

Silicon Valley Open Studios

Silicon Valley Visual Arts

The Kastrop Group Architects

The Uccelli Foundation

University Art

Elected Officials

Janet Borgens

former Redwood City Council member

Brent Britschgi

former Mayor of Redwood City

Dick Claire

former Mayor of Redwood City

Roseanne Foust

former Mayor of Redwood City

Jeff Ira

former Mayor of Redwood City

Georgi La Berge

former Mayor of Redwood City

Alisa MacAvoy

Board President, Redwood City School District

Shelly Masur

former Vice Mayor of Redwood City

Hilary Paulson

former Redwood City School Board Member

John Seybert

former Mayor of Redwood City

Warren Slocum

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 4

Community Leaders

Rafael Avendaño

former board member Sequoia Health Care District

Barbara Britschgi

former Redwood City Civic Cultural Commissioner

Karen Chew

former San Mateo Arts Commissioner

Warren Dale

former Redwood City Civic Cultural Commissioner

Dee Eva

Historic Resources Committee Emeritus

Jason Galisatus

former Executive Director of the Redwood City Education Foundation

Jeanne Heise

San Mateo County Arts Commissioner, District 4

Lisa Hicks-Dumanske

Redwood City Library Association

Lorianna Kastrop

Redwood City Port Commissioner

Barbara Neumann

Redwood City Library Foundation

Carla Sillin

Redwood City Library Foundation

Edward Sweeney

former San Mateo County Arts Commissioner, District 4

Hugo Torres

Siena Youth Center of the St. Francis Center, Director of Programs

Individuals

Cindy Abbott

Ayln Beals

President of Beals Martin

Marina Brodskaya

Marcela Del Alcazar

Marcela’s Village Gallery

Rich Eva

Community member

Jonathan Fearn

Greystar

Julie Fellers

Art Advocate 

John Fong

Kenson Ventures

Catherine Fraser

Sequoia Gem and Mineral Society

Gary Johnson

Acclaim Companies

Karen Kienzle

Mary Kay Mitchell

Chalk Granny

Mark Murray

Lane Partners

Paul Naas

Professor of Digital Art and Animation, Cañada College

Jerry Pierce

Community volunteer

Mitch Postel

Karen Routt

Hummingbird Impact Advisors

Jeanne Schreiber

Sky View Creative

Stacey Wagner

Jennifer Williams

Avalon College Advising

Nanette Wylde

PreNeo Press

Timeline

2025

April
Began promoting our public launch and May events at Hotel Sequoia on Saturday, May 3
press release
fact sheet
sample images from the inaugural exhibition for download

April
Hosted Sip & Paint and Sip & Stitch Fundraiser events throughout the month

Hosted Arts Partner meetings with our Community Partners

2024

December
Announced and launched fundraising campaign for our temporary, proof-of-concept space at Hotel Sequoia in downtown Redwood City with donations being accepted on our How to help page. PRESS RELEASE 12.2.24

Designed and distributed our Support the Center for Creativity Brochure.

June
Center for Creativity Webinar for Civic Leaders took place on Wednesday, June 12th, 6pm–7pm. We shared our vision, the results of the recently completed feasibility study, discussed the next steps to bring permanent art centers to San Mateo County, answered questions, and brainstormed ideas together. Zoom recorded presentation

April
Community Meeting #2 took place Thursday, April 24, 6–8pm at the Community Activities Center in Redwood City. The event was also hosted on Zoom. The event shared findings from surveys and the feasibility study, discussed next steps, and gathered community feedback. Opening Presentation

March
Community Meeting #1 took place Saturday, March 23, 10am–12pm at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center in Redwood City. The event was also hosted on Zoom. The event shared findings from surveys and the feasibility study, discussed next steps, and gathered community feedback. Opening Presentation

February
Presented the feasibility study results to San Mateo County Executive Mike Callagy, Supervisor Noelia Corzo, Supervisor Warren Slocum, Chief Legislative Aid Connie Juarez-Diroll, Chief Equity Officer Shireen Malekafzali, Executive Director Office of Arts and Culture Aimee Shapiro and County Staff on February 12 on the County campus.

January
Presented the feasibility study results to the Redwood City City Council on January 21 in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Scheduled Center for Creativity public presentations for Saturday, March 23, 10am–12pm, Veteran’s Memorial Senior Center, and Wednesday, April 24, 6pm–8pm at Redwood City Community Activities Building


2023

December
We are actively scheduling Feasibility Study presentations for January 2024.

November
Began presenting feasibility study results to potential stakeholder including civic leaders, government leaders, developers, philanthropists, local non-profit organizations, and the public.

September
AMS Planning & Research presents final feasibility study report to the Center for Creativity Steering Committee.

July
Contracted with Casa Circulo Cultural to be our fiscal sponsor.


2022

August
Began and completed fundraising to cover the $70,000 cost of the feasibility study.

Advanced plans for an Arts Center feasibility study to include recommendations for an operating structure. 

July
Hired AMS Planning + to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study.

March
Began discussions with developers regarding an arts center as a community benefit.

February
Redwood City Council voted to include an Arts Center as a Community Benefit as part of the Central Redwood City Plan.

January
Formed the Center for Creativity Steering Committee. 

Met with the City Manager and Assistant City Manager to discuss how the future Arts Center could be considered a community asset and benefit for development projects.

Meet with City Council members to garner their support to recommend adding an Arts Center to the list of developer community benefits


2021

November
Survey results delivered to the City Council and city staff. 

Consulted with city staff about recommended next steps. Discussed multiple paths forward and were strongly encouraged to reach out to developers currently proposing projects within Redwood City.

Incoming Mayor Hale and Vice Mayor Reddy strongly and enthusiastically encouraged our engagement with developers.

Survey polled over 2300 residents of Redwood City and the surrounding communities. Very positive results.

Website created and launched.

March – November
Supporters of our vision were gathered including organizations, groups, businesses, elected officials, and community leaders.


2020–2021

December- February
Meetings with City Council members and the City Manager to discuss how the future Arts Center mission could dovetail with the city priorities. Met with enthusiasm and positive feedback, we were tasked with exploring options, garnering more supporters and surveying the community for feedback. 


2020

February 
Vision for a permanent arts center presented to the Redwood City Arts Commission. Received unanimous support.


2010–2019

2019
Redwood City Economic Development Manager, strongly encouraged ARTS RWC to pursue the idea of a permanent arts center in Redwood City.

2018
ARTS RWC formed a subcommittee to plan and research establishing a permanent arts center. Work of the subcommittee was reported and discussed at monthly ARTS RWC meetings.

The Public Art Master Vision Plan passed.

2016
Percent for Art Ordinance passed.

2012
Discussions about a permanent arts center in Redwood City begin.

2010
ARTS RWC formed as a roundtable of artists, arts advocates, arts organizations and civic leaders.

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