Mission and Programs

AVA was founded by women artists in 1989. It is a grant- and donor-funded nonprofit that is a federally-recognized 501(c)3 public benefit charity and a qualified Oregon Cultural Trust arts organization.

AVA creates opportunities for people of all ages and walks of life to engage with the arts. The arts enrich our lives by fostering fellowship, strengthening connections, and sparking creativity and innovation. As a member-based organization, we work together to support the arts and the artists in our community.

Join us and explore our programming in the Gallery, in arts education for youth, in community events, and in artists’ and writers’ residencies, and in the annual Astoria Open Studios Tour.

The Gallery brings diversity and innovation to the community through a dynamic schedule of monthly exhibitions that connect the arts with people, the economy, and the lower Columbia’s unique natural environment.

AVA’s arts education for youth provides learning opportunities for middle and high school students to build content knowledge and develop skills in the visual arts through weekly arts curriculum, workshops with local artists, annual field trips to Portland or Seattle art venues, and participation in an annual county-wide student art exhibition at the Gallery.

AVA partners with Art Room Astoria to host three weeks of Art Camp in the summer to provide a variety of hands-on activities to encourage multi-sensory stimulation and enhanced arts learning for children ages 5-12.

The annual Astoria Open Studios Tour supports and promotes Astoria artists, encourages tourism, and enriches our community. Artists retain 100% of sales made during the summer weekend event. Participating artists are invited to submit work to be included in a group exhibit at the Gallery during the month of July.

Each year, AVA a-i-r offers two six-month artist residencies to encourage the creative, intellectual, and professional growth of local artists. Each selected artist is provided with a studio in the Astoria Studio Collective building free of charge for the six-month residency period, and an opportunity to exhibit their recent work.

AVA partners with Recology Western Oregon for the annual Coastal Oregon Artist Residency (COAR), providing two selected artists with access to discarded materials, a stipend of $1,000 per month for four months, studio space at Recology’s Warrenton-based facility and, at the close of the residency, a public exhibition in downtown Astoria.

AVA and the Writers Guild of Astoria partner annually for the North Coast Writer’s Residency, which affords both established and emerging writers the time, space, and solitude needed to work uninterrupted on a project of their choosing. Lodging and a small stipend are provided, and a reception and public reading is held in the Gallery at the end of the residency.

Meet our Leadership

Project, Program, and Exhibition Proposals:

We are always interested in ideas that could be pursued in partnership with AVA. We’re especially interested in projects that connect the arts with area youth and with our unique natural environment, and that help develop diversity, equity, and inclusion for all.

Proposals may be sent to astoriavisualarts@gmail.com.

Please include a short narrative about your proposal, including a statement about the benefit the proposed project would have for the community. If the proposal is for a gallery exhibition, include a brief bio of the artist(s), and 3-5 images of artwork.

The Pacific Northwest today is a community of many diverse Native peoples who continue to live and work here. We respectfully acknowledge and honor all indigenous communities - past, present, future - and are grateful for their ongoing and vibrant presence.