Gilroy Arts Alliance reports fentanyl exhibit, ceramics shows, and grant plans at Arts & Culture Commission meeting

Sharon Albert, vice president of the Gilroy Arts Alliance and curator at the Gilroy Center for the Arts, gave the commission a quarterly report on programming, exhibits and grant work.

Albert described a recent fentanyl-awareness exhibit created with affected families and a well-attended ceramics exhibit produced in collaboration with local colleges and high schools. She outlined recurring events including the members exhibit (reception scheduled the coming Saturday), an Ofrena/Ofrenda program tied to the community festival, and a veterans exhibit in the winter. Albert said the Alliance has used grants to renovate the art center (converting a former Salvation Army lot into courtyard space) and that she is pursuing additional grants to address electrical upgrades and other facility improvements.

Albert also discussed youth programming and recruitment challenges: the Alliance runs a summer arts class with limited enrollment and hopes to increase outreach through schools, YMCA and partner organizations. She encouraged commissioners to visit the center, noted ongoing collaborations with regional partners, and offered to provide exhibition space and materials for commission outreach at future events.

The commission thanked Albert and discussed ways the Alliance’s materials and prior-year banner examples could be used at upcoming outreach events such as the Party in the Park tabling opportunity.