History of Astoria Visual Arts

The purpose of Astoria Visual Arts (AVA) is to promote, support, and enhance the cultural arts in the greater Astoria area.

The organization has a twenty-year track record of unique and significant projects. Projects include the 2001 restoration of the mural at Fort Astor Park which depicts the original settlement at its site. In 2003, the AVA received $53,000 in grants from the Wintercross Foundation to conduct a design competition for art installations along Astoria’s Riverwalk, and is pursuing construction of the winning design.

AVA has operated several galleries that featured local, emerging artists.

One of the initial projects was a tapestry of Astoria as viewed from the river, which hangs today in the Clatsop County Historical Museum.