West Valley Arts Council

The West Valley Arts Council delivers extraordinary arts and cultural experiences to students, teachers, seniors, artists and the citizens of the West Valley. Our programs are affordable, accessible, and culturally diverse. Since 1969 we have been committed to enriching the West Valley by growing a vibrant and connected arts and cultural community. Westmarc recently acknowledged our work and commitment by choosing us for its "2019 Best of the West - Quality of Life" award.

The West Valley Arts Council's office and gallery are currently based in the City of Surprise. Arts HQ, our beloved art gallery, exhibits beautiful shows featuring artwork created by some of the region's finest artists - adult and youth. We also support our art members year-round by featuring their art in our retail area. Arts HQ is also the home to some great events and performances such as Lunchtime Theater Series in partnership with the Surprise Art Commission, our Vision and Sound Motown concert, and our Artisan Market.

It is through our commitment to Arts Education for our West Valley educators and students that we have achieved some of our most important inroads in accomplishing our overall mission. Our live performance program, Arts Advantage, presents standards-based performances for 4th grade students from Title One schools. Through lively and talented performers, over 4,000 students a year experience opera, drama, jazz, and other culturally diverse performing arts. For 20 years, our Gallery 37 program has engaged high school students to work with a master artist and local cities to create and install public art that reflects the uniqueness of each city or town and their residents. The program's impact across the region led to being honored with the 2015 Governor's Arts Award in recognition of its on-going community impact. These programs has been recognized nationally by Americans for the Arts for its unique approach to improving and strengthening arts education in West Valley schools.

As part of our commitment to provide affordable and accessible arts activities for all, the WVAC began a Creative Aging initiative to provide high-quality hands-on arts programs specifically for older adults. Creative Expressions: Aging Well Through the Arts delivers professionally conducted arts programs that provides long term benefits to older adults, especially those with limited resources and access to such programs.

Testimonials

About Gallery 37 - our permanent public art program:

"Gallery 37 is an outstanding mix of all the attributes needed to make a program great. High School students getting a taste of college while getting an opportunity to expand their artistic skills. Beyond advancing their artistic skills the work as a team and learn the art of collaboration. They take their initial sketches and through their collaboration, a quality mural is the finished product.

That is impressive enough, however this group of individual the meet for the first day and become a cohesive group of artists. Add to this the ability to stand in front of a group of adults they never met and present their project verbally. Gallery 37 never ceases to amaze me! Let us not forget that when the students are done we get a beautiful piece of art for our community to enjoy for many years."

Andre Licardi
Arts Coordinator
Peoria Arts Commission

"Not only has Gallery 37 made me look forward to waking up for school in the morning, but it has also made me further consider pursuing a career in art. It's given me insight on architecture and way finding, and also provided me with useful, real-life experience working with clients." L. Borja

"Participating in Gallery 37 has helped me in so many ways! Not only do I feel that I've become a better and more diverse artist, but I have learned important skills that I will definitely use when I'm tackling the real world. I hope more people get the chance to experience what I have; plus, it's really cool to say that I have helped install a public piece of art". N. Guevara