For 50 years Valley Art Center has been the center of Visual Arts education in the Chagrin Valley
A Brief History of the Valley Art Center
In 1945 Chagrin Artists Foundation was formed to teach art classes to children and present art exhibits of local artists. In 1971 Valley Art Center was incorporated with the purchase of our current building. Founders include Robert Takatch, Ann Over, Nancy Martt and Cara Stirn. Eleanor Stirn and others made a down payment on the building. Programs included visual arts, music, dance, and theater education and production. In 1983 Art by the Falls Festival began in Riverside Park produced by VAC. The fine art and fine craft outdoor festival has grown steadily over the years in size and reputation to over 120 artists and entertainers from throughout the nation. The 1990's saw VAC take control of most of the building for classroom and gallery use. There were major renovations to the facility including shoring up of building support, new windows, new stainless steel cabinets, new carpeting, removable walls for gallery/classroom use, etc. We enlarged our schedule and added additional gallery shows to our programming and continued to grow Art by the Falls. During the summer of 2008, we underwent total renovation of the east portion and front façade of our building. This provided us with new jewelry making/precious metal clay/enameling classroom along with an enlarged gallery and two additional updated classrooms. We were able to install new and improved lighting, HVAC, plumbing, and storage. In 2010 the total renovation of the building was completed including the pottery studio and the west portion of the building. In 2013 we refurbished our gift shop and increased our ability to display and sell artists work from throughout the region. After some controversy Bud Deihl completed a mural on our eastern wall in 2014 artist, the first sanctioned outdoor mural in the village of Chagrin Falls. In 2016 VAC rebranded with a new logo, outdoor signage and exterior lighting. Today we are focused on visual art education and exhibitions, with increased engagement in partnerships with local schools, non-profits and businesses.
In 1945 Chagrin Artists Foundation was formed to teach art classes to children and present art exhibits of local artists. In 1971 Valley Art Center was incorporated with the purchase of our current building. Founders include Robert Takatch, Ann Over, Nancy Martt and Cara Stirn. Eleanor Stirn and others made a down payment on the building. Programs included visual arts, music, dance, and theater education and production. In 1983 Art by the Falls Festival began in Riverside Park produced by VAC. The fine art and fine craft outdoor festival has grown steadily over the years in size and reputation to over 120 artists and entertainers from throughout the nation. The 1990's saw VAC take control of most of the building for classroom and gallery use. There were major renovations to the facility including shoring up of building support, new windows, new stainless steel cabinets, new carpeting, removable walls for gallery/classroom use, etc. We enlarged our schedule and added additional gallery shows to our programming and continued to grow Art by the Falls. During the summer of 2008, we underwent total renovation of the east portion and front façade of our building. This provided us with new jewelry making/precious metal clay/enameling classroom along with an enlarged gallery and two additional updated classrooms. We were able to install new and improved lighting, HVAC, plumbing, and storage. In 2010 the total renovation of the building was completed including the pottery studio and the west portion of the building. In 2013 we refurbished our gift shop and increased our ability to display and sell artists work from throughout the region. After some controversy Bud Deihl completed a mural on our eastern wall in 2014 artist, the first sanctioned outdoor mural in the village of Chagrin Falls. In 2016 VAC rebranded with a new logo, outdoor signage and exterior lighting. Today we are focused on visual art education and exhibitions, with increased engagement in partnerships with local schools, non-profits and businesses.
$50K for 50 Years
We are continuing to bring our excellent art programming to the region and we need your help to get it done for the next 50 years!
We want to raise $50,000 for our anniversary by Art by the Falls, June 7, 2020. Your tax-deductible contribution will go to support:
- Education and Gallery Programming
- Classroom and Gallery enhancement projects
- 50th Anniversary Documentary Film
- 50th Anniversary Community Art Project
- 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration
We want to raise $50,000 for our anniversary by Art by the Falls, June 7, 2020. Your tax-deductible contribution will go to support:
- Education and Gallery Programming
- Classroom and Gallery enhancement projects
- 50th Anniversary Documentary Film
- 50th Anniversary Community Art Project
- 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration
A Call for Champions - Business Sponsorship
Our story is one of community and cooperation. To honor that spirit of community, through the duration of this fundraiser we are offering a special $50 sponsorship opportunity for business owners throughout the region.
For your $50 donation we will add your logo to a special thank you section in our weekly newsletter that is delivered to thousands of recipients every Thursday. This will be a weekly rotation of five (5) logos per week that will be displayed near the header of our newsletter through the duration of our 50th Anniversary celebration. We will also add your logo to our VAC Champions board that will be on display in our demo tent during the 2020 Art by the Falls Festival.
To get involved and help Champion our cause, use the "Donate" button below. Don't forget to note Champion's Logo 2020 at checkout!
For your $50 donation we will add your logo to a special thank you section in our weekly newsletter that is delivered to thousands of recipients every Thursday. This will be a weekly rotation of five (5) logos per week that will be displayed near the header of our newsletter through the duration of our 50th Anniversary celebration. We will also add your logo to our VAC Champions board that will be on display in our demo tent during the 2020 Art by the Falls Festival.
To get involved and help Champion our cause, use the "Donate" button below. Don't forget to note Champion's Logo 2020 at checkout!
Please note "Champion's Logo 2020" at checkout.
We also welcome matching gifts for our $50K for 50 Years campaign at any level, please call us in our office to discuss this opportunity.
Another easy way you can support us is through the AmazonSmiles program. follow the link below and select Valley Art Center Inc as your beneficiary of choice. Then just do your normal Amazon shopping through the AmazonSmiles platform and .5% of your purchase will be donated directly to Valley Art Center. For the duration of this fundraiser, February 14 - May 14, 2020, all funds donated through AmazonSmiles will be added to the fundraiser total!