NIAD Is Hiring Fall Interns!

Open Positions: Communications Intern Exhibitions Intern (click the links to jump down the page to the full job description) Interviews begin September 15 Join NIAD Art Center’s Art Marketing & Exhibitions team! NIAD’s Communications & Exhibitions Internships are aimed at providing an educational experience for individuals who are curious and excited about pursuing a career in the arts, disability services, and communications fields. About NIAD Art Center Now in its 41st year, NIAD Art Center promotes creative expression, independence, dignity, and community integration for adult artists with disabilities. NIAD provides a Virtual and Richmond-based studio and gallery space, programmed by Read More …

A Love Letter from NIAD

If you are an artist, this is going out to you.  And if you support artists – funders, families, community members, colleagues, friends, audiences, confidants – we’re talking to you too.  It’s no secret that NIAD’s vitality comes from the leadership of more than 70 adult studio artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities who practice, sometimes for decades, in our 23rd Street and Virtual Studios. And most people know that each of our 29 staff members practice as professional artists – from musicians to estheticians to painters, our staff members each carry powerful voices in our many art worlds. This week, Read More …

Volunteer Meet & Greet – Saturday, June 10th, Noon – 1:00pm

NIAD Art Center is opening its doors one hour early on June 10th to welcome in current volunteers and curious would-be volunteers! During this *sneak peek* we’ll enjoy art, refreshments, and chat about volunteer opportunities at NIAD. We invite current or former volunteers to join us in welcoming interested community members to our space and sharing your stories and experiences. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about our volunteer application process, responsibilities, and opportunities.  Thank you in advance to anyone who is considering sharing your time talents with our community. You are appreciated! Volunteer opportunities are available in Fiber Arts, Printmaking, Ceramics, Painting, Sound Read More …

Win Win 11 Fundraiser: You Did It!

Thank you! This year’s Win Win fundraiser was, once again, the most successful ever, surpassing even the record-breaking 40th anniversary party we celebrated last year. It’s NIAD’s larger community of support – namely, all of you reading this – who ensure that from afar, early support defines success for Win Win; and that up close, we have a chance to see the incredible crowd that comes together in Richmond each year to build bounty for NIAD each spring. Many of you sponsor our event, as individuals, galleries, corporations, and teams of NIAD donors; and we see those of you who Read More …

NIAD Is Hiring!

Open Position: Substitute Facilitator Closing date: Monday April 17 NIAD is an organization that aims to be artistically relevant and culturally inclusive. As an organization we deliver these aims through our operations activities as well as through the three programs we offer: NIAD’s Virtual and 23rd Street Studios, Community Programs, and Art Marketing and Partnerships.  NIAD supports inclusivity and visibility in all areas of our working practices and spaces and wants to make sure that opportunities are accessible in all ways and that all voices are truly heard and contribute to our future. We actively encourage individuals from marginalized groups Read More …

Save the Date // Win Win 11!

NIAD’s Annual Fundraiser Saturday March 11 3:00 to 7:00PM NIAD Art Center Dear NIAD Lovers: At NIAD, the new year is opening with quite a bit of storm and bluster. Through it all, we’re able to move our programs online for everyone’s safety – largely because NIAD’s supporters have made it possible to maintain a thriving Virtual Studio where we can meet despite the weather.  For this and for the bounty that has carried us through our 40th year and into a new decade, we are feeling grateful and fortunate.  January 1 kicks off a season of preparation for Win Read More …

We’re Hiring!

Open Position: Construction Manager NIAD is an organization that aims to be artistically relevant and culturally inclusive. As an organizationwe deliver these aims through our operations activities as well as through the three programs we offer:NIAD’s Virtual and 23rd Street Studios, Community Programs, and Art Marketing and Partnerships. NIAD’s Operations and Admin Team coordinates human resources, front desk reception, operationsand facilities project management, bookkeeping and accounting, and data management systems andtechnology for NIAD. Our very active team aims to deliver an exceptional experience for new andexisting staff, our artist community and their care providers, our continually expanding art audiences,and our Read More …

Farewell to Miguel Chacon!

Dear NIAD Lovers: Every time Miguel Chacon comes through NIAD’s studio doors, he assumes his role as “The Manager,” a nickname he earned from his fellow artists for his leadership qualities,  but also for his unwavering support and mentorship of NIAD artists, veterans and newcomers alike.   Miguel is a sought-after sound engineer,  but his keen eye for cultural commentary in his visual art practice is clear in the artworks surveyed in his recent solo exhibition Observer. He has said that he spent years just watching other studio artists before hitting his groove as a painter, and by now that groove is as deep as on the tracks he produces. Read More …

Let the Water Flow!

Celebrating Rami Geller Dear NIAD Lovers: NIAD’s artists have dreamed since the pandemic began of hearing the calming sound of water coming from a fountain in our beautiful courtyard garden. Life on 23rd Street does get loud sometimes, and we could all use a little extra peace.  Enter Rami Geller, who made so many dreams come true for NIAD during his lifetime. His warmth and enthusiasm for connection and community widened NIAD’s circle in so many ways, from organizing numerous exhibitions for NIAD artists on the UC Berkeley campus to bringing friends and supporters each year to Win Win, our annual fundraiser. In the wake of Read More …

Stay Tuned: NIAD’s artists are receiving a cost of living increase!

You may have noticed that pricing for artworks by NIAD artists is very reasonable – and we aim to keep it that way. We believe collecting art should be attainable for everyone! However, with most artists at NIAD earning less than $100 monthly from art sales, and costs rising in the world at large, we are aiming to provide artists and NIAD a cost-of-living-increase after holding artwork prices steady for quite some time.  As you probably know, NIAD splits all proceeds from art sales with artists in an art world standard 50/50% split. This won’t change – NIAD’s art sales Read More …

In Memoriam: NIAD artist Erika Martinez

Dear NIAD Community, This week, we share with a heavy heart the news of Erika Martinez’s passing.  A NIAD artist for 17 years, Erika was a pillar of NIAD’s community, and a treasure to her family, to whom we extend our deep condolences. Her many friends remember her as kind, loving, fierce in her joy and inimitable style, and intensely dedicated to her relationships, as well as her work as an artist.  “Her mischievous streak was enviable”; “Her friendships remain so special and everlasting”; “I remember her hellos in the morning where she would say, ‘Hey, it’s me!’—and indeed it was.” These are just Read More …

Jean McElvane’s Top 20 Easter Favorites

NIAD artist Jean McElvane serves up another seasonal playlist! Jean says: Happy Easter, everyone. Top 20 favorites for Easter coming up.​ Enjoy. 1🐰 – (Easter Yeggs) 2🐰 – (I Want It Now) 3🐰 – (Veruca Salt Oompa Loompa Song) 4🐰 – (Veruca Salt Oompa Loompa Song in Reverse) 5🐰 – (A Family Circus Easter) 6🐰 – (M&M Easter Bunny Commercial 1) – 2 versions, this one I remember as a kid ‘cuz of the music. I hope it never goes away. 6🐰 – (M&M Easter Bunny Commercial 2) – This one has children singing in the background 7🐰 – (Cadbury Read More …

Creepy Comix from the Michael Nuñez Vault, Part 1: “The hunger of the Wendigo”

You probably know his movie posters, and you might’ve seen his historical scenes, but even hardcore Michael Nuñez fans don’t know about his zines, chock full of the incredible detail, canny framing, and fantastical monsters we all know and love. You can find Michael’s work in SFMOMA’s Library/Archives, but we’re making it more accessible here, for the first time. Enjoy! When it was 12:00am it was time to get in and get some sleep. … but not before they sleep they decided to have some passion. Bu then… (Animal like scream)!! Want to find out what horrifying thing Daniel saw Read More …

The Latest from NIAD: WIN WIN Thank You!

Dear NIAD Lovers: $47,000. Sometimes a number is so meaningful.  This year, we asked our supporters to help us reach $40,000 at this year’s fundraiser, Win Win 10, to plant the seeds for NIAD’s next 40 years.  You helped us sail past our goals, and into a new future. By some measures $47,000 may seem modest, but we’re already getting to work, purchasing new tables for the studio, upgrading computers and technology equipment, renovating NIAD’s building with key accessibility upgrades. In a continually growing nonprofit, $47,000 goes a long way toward anchoring our next decades in creating platforms for artist leadership, staff training, Read More …

WIN WIN 10 Tickets On Sale!

NIAD turns 40 this year, so we’re going BIG. NIAD is pulling out all the stops for our annual WIN WIN benefit to commemorate our 40th anniversary, and it wouldn’t be the same without you! It’s called “WIN WIN” because everyone has a chance to take home fantastic art and support NIAD artists. Please join us on Zoom for a fun afternoon of games, music and a live auction of extraordinary artwork donated by NIAD artists and artists in our vital network of supporters.  Following the Zoom event, NIAD lovers will come together (safely) for an in-person reception with music and paella Read More …

NIAD Goes Remote!

Dear NIAD Community,  We have made the decision to return to Virtual programming and remote work at NIAD for now. This was not an easy decision, but because we are committed to the health and safety of everyone in the NIAD community, we will remain in the Virtual Studio until we begin to see the most recent national wave of COVID cases decrease. Fortunately our Virtual Studio is a robust creative environment for artists to make work, and staff are prepared to be in contact with all of our studio artists to support their continued practices.  We are thankful for the Read More …

Welcome Rebecca Teague and Maria Yates!

NIAD Adds Two Members to the Win Win 10 Event Team Excitement for NIAD’s 40th Anniversary year and our upcoming Win Win 10 Benefit Auction is building,  and we’re thrilled to welcome two new members to the NIAD team who will take our fundraising game to the next level. Rebecca Teague, Win Win 10 Event Director Rebecca Teague was born in Washington DC, raised in Chicago, IL and has lived in places as exotic as St Paul, MN and Ann Arbor, MI and now resides in Woodacre, CA. Educated in textiles and then photography at SFAI and SF Academy of Art. Read More …

NIAD x Mills // MCAM Acquires 14 Works by NIAD Artists

We are thrilled to announce that fourteen artworks by NIAD studio artists Heather Hamann, Shana Harper, Serena Scott, and Jonathan Velazquez have been acquired by the Mills College Art Museum as part of a newly launched student acquisition project to help diversify the museum’s collection Full Press Release: Mills College Art Museum is pleased to announce the acquisition of 14 works of art by contemporary artists associated with NIAD Art Center in Richmond, California: Heather Hamann, Shana Harper, Serena Scott, and Jonathan Velazquez. These additions to MCAM’s collection are part of a newly launched student acquisition project to identity, research, Read More …

NIAD x SFMOMA // 2021 Small Press Book Bazaar

NIAD is thrilled to be participating in the 2021 Small Press Book Bazaar at SFMOMA! We’ll be rounding up a bevy of beautiful books, zines, t-shirts and other ephemera for NIAD’s table. We’ll be there alongside an amazing roster of small Bay Area presses. We hope to see you there! Event details: Thursday December 2 1-8pm Schwab Hall, Floor 2 SFMOMA / 151 Third Street / San Francisco Free and open to the public; museum admission is not required. From the SFMOMA website: This holiday season, support the Bay Area creative community by shopping this special pop-up sale with local Read More …

NIAD x Christie’s // Future History: The Katz Legacy

An exhibition of NIAD artists at Christie’s San Francisco We’re thrilled to be a part of “Future History: The Katz Legacy”, an exhibition at Christie’s San Francisco on view December 2-9. NIAD studio artists Dorian Reid (courtesy of Kapp Kapp Gallery), Shana Harper, Jeremy Burleson, Sam Gant, Felicia Griffin, Tre’von Silva, and Shantae Robinson will represent NIAD in the show, and we’re honored to share the space with incredible artists from our sister studios Creative Growth and Creativity Explored. Do you know about the Katzes? They’re an innovative, awe-inspiring couple – artist and art educator Florence Ludins-Katz,  and her husband psychologist Dr. Elias Read More …