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Mission
The Crucible, founded in 1999, is a nonprofit arts education organization that fosters collaboration of the arts, industry and community. Through training in the fine and industrial arts, The Crucible promotes creative expression, reuse of materials and innovative design, while serving as an accessible arts venue for the general community through classes, workshops, lectures, gallery exhibits, community events, and special youth programs. Our goal is to become one of the premiere art centers in the country; where art thrives, is accessible, and inspires everyone in their everyday lives. The Crucible was founded by a group of community artists, trades people and business leaders with a vision to make art accessible to everyone. They saw a widening gap between the public and the arts, depriving the community of viable, fulfilling employment opportunities, compartmentalizing creativity, separating us from our rich and diverse cultural heritages, and reinforcing the idea that art and creativity have no application in our everyday lives. The Crucible helps to close this gap and open the mind to creative possibilities in a cross-cultural community setting. Our convergence of fine art and industrial artisanship makes The Crucible unique as a school, and a place brimming with innovative ideas, unusual community collaborations and creative experimentation. Hands-on creation, invigorated interactions, shared safety and problem-solving, skills mentorship - all of these widen the horizon of what’s possible.
Key Facts
Geographic areas served:
Greater SF Bay Area
Target demographics:
Our students and volunteers range from 8 to over 80, and come from all socio-economic levels. Our community and youth programs focus on providing under-served kids within our West Oakland community the opportunity to learn and create.
Results to date:
We offer over 500 classes & workshops each year. Our youth and community program serves youngsters and their parents through field trips, after school and summer camps, workshops, bike programs, free tickets to events, and classes (apx. 50% of youth students receive scholarships).
Direct beneficiaries per year: nearly 5,000 adult students and over 2,000 youth directly benefit from our classes and programs
Indirect beneficiaries per year: Numerous volunteers, educators, community members, and a diverse community of artists and artisans
Obstacles:
We are about 70% self-funded, through our tuition, membership, and proceeds from our legendary fundraising events. The amount of time and resources necessary to mount our benefit theatrical events and annual Fire Arts Festival creates a huge challenge for our limited human and budget resources.
What your donation will allow us to do:
Your membership, donation, or sponsorship helps keep the creative fires burning here in many ways.
Your donation of $500 enables us to:
send “ERV” our Educational Response Vehicle out for a community or school presentation
Your donation of $5000 enables us to:
sponsor a weeklong workshop for a school group
Your donation of $100 enables us to:
purchase safety equipment for 3 workshops for 30 children
Board Members and Affiliation:
Current Board Members:
Steve Young - President
Fred Winslow - Treasurer
Jeremy Crandell - Secretary
Rick Fitzgerald - Vice President
Greg Hansen
Past and Current Funders:
Among our wonderful supporters: Annette Campbell-White, Debora Chalsty, Pasha & Laney Thornton, the Tagami family, Hellman Family Foundation, Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, Ann Getty, City of Oakland, Jeremy Crandell, Greenline Industries, and more we wish we could mention here.
Key Staff
Michael Sturtz, Founder & Executive Director
Kristy Alfieri, Director of Youth & Community Programs
Rob Nehring, Adult Program Director
Joey Gottbrath, Director of Studio Operations
Steve Bayles, Business & Operations Director
Jan Schlesinger, Marketing Director