Circle Gallery, Arts Council heading for a new location
Annette Nordine/The Madera Tribune Cassandra Diaz, office assistant at Circle Gallery, is surrounded by art and boxes of archives prepared for the move to the gallery’s new location on Gateway Drive. Shown in the photo she is holding are Nancy Clute, founder of the Arts Council and its gallery, and her husband, Val. Both are deceased.
Getting ready to move an entire art gallery and offices across town is no simple matter for the Madera County Arts Council and its Circle Gallery.
After several years at 1653 N. Schnoor Ave., the staff and members of the board of the local nonprofit have been packing boxes and getting artwork ready for the move to larger quarters in the former Social Security building at 424 N. Gateway Drive, said gallery office assistant Cassandra Diaz.
The new digs will more than double the Arts Council’s space.
“We hope the larger location will be able to showcase more artists’ works and be better able to support local arts organizations, offering classes for all ages and associated projects,” said Emily Redondo, gallery manager.
This is one of many moves the Circle Gallery has made since its inception in the late 1980s.
It was Nancy Clute, whose talents and determination brought about the formation of the Madera County Arts Council. A teacher and artist, she was a total believer in the arts and how art can help children in many different ways, according to those who worked with her.
Clute spearheaded the PACES program. An advocate for children, her PACES Program, “Presenting Arts To Children In Elementary Schools,” still carries on today.
The opening date for the new gallery location is still to be determined. Moving was scheduled to be Monday.
The offering of a “Pets” art show in August is still pending.
September will feature the 25th annual Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts. Its exhibition dates are Sept. 13 through Oct. 26.
