Who We Are

Our Story

The Center for Creativity is a grassroots initiative driven by individuals who believe in the transformative power of the arts. Our mission is to create an inclusive, accessible arts center that nurtures creativity, strengthens community bonds, and empowers everyone to experience, create, and connect through the arts.

Our story began in 2010 with ARTS RWC, a roundtable of artists, advocates, and civic leaders dedicated to building a vibrant arts community in Redwood City. In 2022, we formed a Steering Committee to move the vision of a permanent arts center forward.

On May 3, 2025, we opened our temporary proof-of-concept space at the historic Hotel Sequoia in downtown Redwood City, offering exhibitions, performances, and community programs while we work toward a permanent home.

We envision San Mateo County as a vibrant, connected community where creativity brings people together, and we welcome volunteers and partners to help bring this vision to life.

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

Lisa Duncan
Financial Coach and Author

Dani Gasparini
Former Redwood City Mayor and Downtown Property Owner

Elizabeth Gómez
Redwood City Community Artist

Danica Michels Hodge
Senior Editorial Manager - Hoover Institution at Stanford University

Sandra Keely
Former Redwood City Arts Commissioner

Alyssa Levitan
Art Educator and Redwood City Artist

Kent Manske
Artist and Cultural Worker

Beth Mostovoy
Artist and Founder of ARTS RWC

Gadget
Artist and 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

Neha Sharma
Redwood City Artist

Pam Swint
Redwood City Arts Commissioner

Our Journey

  • September
    Awarded a $50,000 Community Fund grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

    Launched our Art + Sound on Broadway events, three Sundays of live music, visual arts and hand-on activities. 

    Launched our Community Wall in the Eureka Studio with our first two exhibitions featuring The Art of Recovery (September) and Disability Showcase (October).

    Opened our new gallery "Art Window" on the pedestrian walkway on Broadway, two doors down from the CfC.

    August
    Completed our Youth Community Mural Project. The Summer project brought together more than 100 youth community members to create 28 mural panels now permanently installed in the Eureka Studio.  

    July
    Awarded a $4800 grant from Redwood City Arts Commission for our Art of the Community exhibition

    Awarded a $8000 grant from the Redwood City Arts Commission for Art & Sound on Broadway.

    June
    Held an Appreciation Reception for civic leaders, community partners and funders. 

    May
    Opened our temporary proof-of-concept space at Hotel Sequoia.

    April

    Hosted public launch events, Sip & Paint and Sip & Stitch fundraisers.

    Hosted Arts Partner and Community Partner meetings.

    March
    Received $4500 grant from the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture

  • December
    Launched fundraising campaign for Hotel Sequoia space.

    June
    Hosted civic leaders webinar to share feasibility study results.

    April - March
    Held two public community meetings to share findings and gather feedback.

    February - January
    Presented feasibility study results to San Mateo County and Redwood City leaders.

  • December-November
    Shared feasibility study results with stakeholders.

    September
    Feasibility study finalized by AMS Planning & Research.

    July
    Partnered with Casa Círculo Cultural as fiscal sponsor.

  • August
    Raised $70,000 for feasibility study.

    July
    Commissioned AMS Planning + Research for the study.

    February
    City Council voted to include an arts center as a community benefit.

    January
    Formed the Center for Creativity Steering Committee.

  • November
    Delivered community survey results (2,300+ responses) to City Council.

    March - October
    Built support among organizations, businesses, and civic leaders. Website launched.

  • 2020 - 2021
    Met with City Council and City Manager; tasked with building support and surveying community.

    February
    Presented vision to the Redwood City Arts Commission; received unanimous support.

  • 2019
    City encouraged ARTS RWC to pursue an arts center.

    2018
    ARTS RWC subcommittee formed; Public Art Master Vision Plan passed.

    2016
    Percent for Art Ordinance passed.

    2012
    First discussions about a permanent arts center.

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

Supporters of our Vision

In 2022, as our grassroots efforts began to take shape, we reached out to organizations, businesses, elected officials, and community leaders to support our vision. Since then, our circle of supporters has continued to grow.

  • 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)
    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 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 (SVOS)
    San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture
    Silicon Valley Visual Arts
    The Kastrop Group Architects
    The Uccelli Foundation
    University Art

  • 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, former Redwood City School Board Member
    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, Former San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 4

  • Rafael Avendaño, Executive Director of Redwood City Together
    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, Former San Mateo County Arts Commissioner, District 4
    Lisa Hicks-Dumanske, Executive Director of 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