Sedona Arts Center — Celebrating our volunteers & an extraordinary year at Sedona Arts Center

September is almost upon us—can you believe it? This summer has flown by. While our Gallery Shop has been unusually slow this summer due to the impact of the Pocket Fire, the rest of Sedona Arts Center has been anything but quiet!

Have You Seen Beyond the Frame?

If you weren’t at Celebrate Sedona and the opening of Beyond the Frame, our latest special exhibition, on Friday, you need to make a trip to campus to see this incredible show.

While I am always impressed by every one of our exhibitions, this one is truly special.

All of our special exhibitions are juried, and Beyond the Frame brought together artists from across the country who are redefining what art can be—pushing beyond familiar materials, formats, and ideas. The work incorporates experimentation, unconventional materials, and innovative techniques, celebrating artists who take risks, challenge boundaries, and help shape the evolving future of contemporary art.

The work is interactive, head-scratching, funny, eerie, surprising—and just about every other kind of “thinking beyond the frame” you can imagine.

Don’t miss it!

This program provides students with a $500 stipend and college credits through our partnership with Yavapai College. More importantly, it is designed to provide young artists with a pathway toward becoming professional artists.

This year’s students were challenged to develop a concept centered around America 250—thinking about what Arizona was like 250 years ago and what this country means to them today.

As the students explained:

“…symbols and images from our country’s history are here to pay tribute to our rights as citizens, as well as the potential for growth, innovation, and creativity that we still maintain. Together, these components affirm that no single voice defines our country; instead, each contributes to a richer, stronger whole.”

We couldn’t be more proud of how this mural evolved and how beautifully it came together.

You’ll find “FOR ALL THE PEOPLE” on the south side of the Gallery building.

We simply could not do what we do without them.

Our volunteers are:
Melissa Pontikes, Bruce Peek, Dr. Lois Brown, Darla Deville, Olga Kondrashova, Michael Shepherd, Dottie Webster, Judy VanRaalte, Barbara Altevers, Emelia Arizmendi, Meredith Armstrong, Joan Bankert, Barb Barker, David Bill, Jennette Bill, Pierre Bouchard, Claire Boyd, Mike Boyd, Mary Lois Brown, Sondra Brunone, Mike Coyne, Polly Culkin, Kathy Dardis, Russell DeHaven, Crystal Gail, Lisa Gonzalez, Robin Gonzalez, Lynne Grigg, Jeff Heeg, Martos Hoffman, Kiara Holsapple, Charlotte Hosseini, Hassan Hosseini, Lindy Huber, Lorkhen Tsay Hunt, Amy Keller, Lili Anne Laurin, Mariann Leahy, Janet Levy, Amy Light, Leslie Mayer, Scott McDonald, Liz Merrik, Carol Meteyer, Jody Meyers, Catherine Moore, Michele Naylor, Reneshia Nelson, Cinda Orr, Julie Paez, Sharon Penchina, Diane Phelps, Maryellen Pugh, Jan Reimer, Roy Reimer, Joan Roberts, Laura Roche, Sofia Romeiro, Jodi Sansone, Erin Lee Schley, Brenda Schweder, Jeff Scrima, Scott Sears, Char Selenski, Linda Sherman, Ken Sherman, Debra Shinn, Dena Sohocki, Dennis Sohocki, Ed Southwell, Sheena Sovich, Steve Sovich, LeAnn Sowa, Mary Jane Stell, Ellen Taylor, Kenyon Taylor, Nori Thorne, Arna Voldenos, Debbie Winslow, Iris Yang, Jake Henderson.

We are also grateful to our friends from the Rotary Club who volunteer their time during Celebrate Sedona: Jean Barton, Ray & Peggy Harris, Holli Ploog, Dave & Suzette Young, Sam & Haymar Britton, Jamiss Sebert, and Gary Karademos.

And finally, because this has been such a busy summer, I haven’t had a chance to share just how successful FY26 turned out to be.

Here are just a few highlights from my Annual Meeting presentation:

FY26 BY THE NUMBERS

153,352
TOTAL ATTENDANCE

$6.1 MILLION
ECONOMIC IMPACT

134,682
EXHIBIT, EVENT + PROGRAM ATTENDANCE

1,227
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS STUDENTS

20,952
GALLERY SHOP GUESTS

$404,000
GALLERY SHOP GROSS SALES
Back above $400K for the first time since the pandemic!

CONTRIBUTED INCOME

UP 147% OVER FY25
The most funds raised in a single year in the history of Sedona Arts Center!

Our School of the Arts—and especially our terrific ceramics department—continues to grow. Our programs are attracting more and more attention as they expand, and the number of artists we serve directly—approximately 1,700 each year—continues to grow as well.

It was an extraordinary year, and it happened because of you—our students, artists, volunteers, members, donors, partners, audiences, and friends. Thank you for believing in the power of the arts and for helping Sedona Arts Center continue to thrive.

Jan Sitts’ Sedona Summer Mural Update

The space under the awning at the Art Barn is being prepared as the new home for Jan Sitts’ Sedona Summer, which is currently under restoration. Once completed, the mural will return to campus in its new location, where it will be better protected from the elements. We hope to have it back on campus by next summer.

I can’t wait to see what FY27 brings!

I hope to see you on campus soon.

Warmly,

Julie A. Richard
CEO
Sedona Arts Center

Our mission is to connect, enrich, educate and lead through the inspiring power of the arts and creative discovery.

Sedona Arts Center (SAC) is a cornerstone of Northern Arizona’s cultural community and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, this nonprofit organization is based in Uptown Sedona and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enrich the artistic life of the Verde Valley.

NO SALES TAX – FREE PARKING – UPTOWN SEDONA
Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax (an almost a 10% savings!)

SedonaArtsCenter.org