Who was VIVA?

VIVA closed its doors in December 2010. Thank you for all your support.

VIVA was a non-profit organization supported by four local art organizations (Women Painters West, Valley Watercolor Society, Collage Artists of America, and Valley Artists Guild) who joined together in a commitment to open and operate a permanent arts center prominently located in the San Fernando Valley. VIVA provided artists with the opportunity for critical exposure and public appreciation in a professional environment.

These long-standing art organizations continuously contributed to the community in the form of scholarships to selected art students, as well as providing volunteers to teach art and institute art programs at local schools.

VIVA was not intended to be a museum or a commercial gallery. Rather, it functioned as a municipal exhibition space, offering a comprehensive look at the vibrant and vital visual art scene in the region. Each month VIVA hosted a new group exhibition of works by talented artists. We also featured the work of individual artists in our Salon.

In addition to a lively schedule of exhibitions, VIVA offered an exciting and diverse program of demonstrations by noted artists, lectures by recognized art experts, and instructional workshops in various styles and media.

As a non-profit organization, VIVA relied heavily on the support of local art groups, corporate sponsorships, public donations, and federal, state and city funding in order to continue to provide this much needed cultural outlet for our community. VIVA wishes to express its gratitude to the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, and The Roth Family Foundation for their generous grants over the years.