San Luis Obispo Art Center
Introduced by Sandy Nichols: Karen Kile has served as the Executive Director of the
Karen said that the purpose of the Center is to provide and promote a variety of visual arts experiences for all ages through exhibition, education, expression and interaction. She said, "Getting to meet the artists is one of our primary goals." Most artists are local but the center's curator does find other artists in the nation that give the right message. They have art teaching programs for children 5-12 years of age, teenagers and adults that feature workshops conducted by known artists.
Karen explained that in California, at the elementary school level less than three cents per student is expended; an amount less than spent on the Island of Guam. Their program sees over 500 students per year and they extend their offers to County Elementary Schools. The facility has art motif rooms that are available for parties, weddings, receptions and other events. They are currently involved in developing plans for a new 26,000 square foot building and are in the process of receiving approval from City commissions. This has been an eight year planning process. She shared renderings of the proposed facility that will most likely be located at their present location on the corner of Broad and
From September 29 through October 5, they will host the seventh annual Plein Air Painting Festival featuring over 150 artists from all over the