Welcome to
Scarab Creative Arts
Scarab Creative Arts is an arts center with four key components, offering a place of beauty and inspiration for those who appreciate art and a vibrant collaborative community for those who create.
Gallery
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rotating exhibitions showcasing curated work by talented artists or groups
Gift Shop
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hand-crafted locally made functional and decorative art
Shared Space Studio
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talented local professionals working in a variety of two and three dimensional processes - bustling with creative energy
Education Center
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diverse classes for both adults and children, bringing expertise and insights to the creative processes
Vision
Providing access to the benefits of art to everyone,
and creating a hub for artists and the community to collaborate and grow.
Mission
Scarab Creative Arts is a multi-faceted arts center dedicated to supporting both artists and the broader community. We believe in the transformative power of art and envision Scarab as a space where meaningful engagement and personal transformation occur through direct experiences with the arts.
We pursue this vision by:
● Supporting artists through collaborative opportunities, income-generating programs, and pathways to commercial success.
● Enriching the community by offering accessible, inclusive arts education.
● Showcasing diverse creative voices through exhibitions in our gallery.
● Engaging in community outreach to foster connection and revitalize community well-being.
We celebrate diversity and welcome all community members
regardless of visible or invisible disability, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship status, social or economic background, race, ethnicity, culture, veteran status, age, religion, or beliefs.
To maximize the impact of our work, we may collaborate with other nonprofit organizations that qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and operate exclusively for educational and charitable purposes. We also actively cultivate partnerships with private and corporate donors who share our mission.
At the discretion of the Board of Directors, we may offer internships or volunteer opportunities to further expand our reach and deepen our impact
Core Values
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Service
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Equality
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The Importance of Human Relationships
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Integrity
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Community
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Collaboration
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Accessibility
Scarab Creative Arts
Community Outreach
Where We Came From
The Roots
Scarab Creative Arts started in 2021 as one woman's vision of a collaborative, shared space studio nestled in a charming historic building.
An educational component, a gift shop, and a formal gallery were added to make Scarab an arts center like nothing else in Fresno's downtown arts district.
How We Got Here
The Impetus
A few years ago, a sheltered woman who was struggling to settle herself into a drug-free, productive lifestyle joined a glass class. Wanting to help her, and believing in integrating people into a mainstream environment rather than meeting them in their current situation, the student was welcomed into studio glass groups at no charge. Over the next years we saw our friend convert her habits to a functioning, healthy lifestyle and gain full independence. We believe we were an influence.
In 2023 and 2024, we reached out to a women/children’s shelter to invite the residents to a Christmas party. Some of the women remarked they would be thrilled to come back and take classes. But, struggling to establish their lives, and with limited budgets, engaging in the arts was a luxury they couldn’t afford.
One day a neighborhood man called to inquire about our children’s art enrichment program “just down the street” from their home. When he heard the costs, all of the joy dropped from his voice.
These are a sample of the stories that prompted thoughts of how we could make arts accessible and use the arts to benefit others. Our hope is to gain the needed support to enable us to break down barriers and abundantly serve others through the arts.
Where We're Going
Turning Vision Into Transformation
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Providing accessibility to arts programming to include those who are:
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economically marginalized,
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encumbered with physical limitations, for example, the deaf and hard of hearing community
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facing socio-economic hurdles, including at-risk teens
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mobility impaired, such as seniors in care facilities;
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Uplifting working artists by providing:
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gallery exposure,
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business management training,
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opportunities for growth through community;
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Integrating arts education into curricula for adults and youth:
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nutrition and community gardens,
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literature,
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science;
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Offering Art Therapy to improve the quality of life for those experiencing trauma and other challenges.
The common denominator in all of our vision goals is a heart for using the arts in service to others.
Collaborating with
Scarab Creative Arts
Do you have ideas for collaborating with Scarab? We look forward to supporting people and organizations whenever
possible.
Please address your thoughts in one email, sent to:
Some ways we are available:
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use of our space for activities/functions that support the arts,
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collaborations complementing with a gallery installation and ArtHop reception,
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creative collaborations with one or more of our artists.
Exhibiting in our gallery
Artists are encouraged to inquire about exhibiting in a private show, either solo or in a small group.
Opportunities to participate in community shows:
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February we celebrate the art of the black community during Black History Month.
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March we host a juried community competition based on a theme.
Our Historic Building
Scarab Creative Arts is located in a historic brick building in the mural district of downtown Fresno. For half a century our building housed Scarab Glass Works, an art glass workshop. That art glass heritage is represented in an exterior wall mural interpretation of a Tiffany window. This mural was the first in the area, giving rise to the growing body of art in Fresno's downtown Mural District. The murals celebrate the creative spirit of our community and contribute to putting Fresno on the map as the blossoming art hub of California.
Scarab Creative Arts has brought new life to a beautiful space.
We are proud to continue the innovative and experimental
creative spirit in the arts that had been nurtured here for 50 years.
