About Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA

Image Source – grandcentralartcenter.com

Grand Central Art Center is located in the Artists Village section of the Downtown National Register District.

History

The Santa Ana, CA area invested $7.5 million to acquire and renovate the Grand Central Building, which was constructed in 1924. Three architectural accolades have been presented for the project.

The fiscal plan of the center enables it to earn revenue to fund basic day-to-day operations. Third-party operators manage the classrooms, restaurants, and other authorized locations. The studios and apartments are sublet to graduate students at CSU Fullerton.

Facilities

About 27 apartments are provided to students admitted to university MA or MFA programs in visual and performing arts. One of the residential units has been designated for the artist-in-residence program at the art center. Additionally, the artist-in-residence will have access to an 800-square-foot (74-square-meter) private studio area.

The Grand Central Gallery and Project Room present exhibitions and initiatives by renowned worldwide artists. Each location hosts 4 to 6 exhibits every year.

The theater is situated in the heart of the city. It has an in-the-round configuration with 85 seats. The CSUF Department of Theatre and Dance is responsible for programming the theater. (Source: Wikipedia)

Location

Exhibits

GCAC showcases exhibitions, performances, and installations by local, regional, national, and international artists that use contemporary art to address social issues.

Three dedicated galleries, a video project gallery, and a project wall are organized in accordance with Grand Central Art Center’s objective through the curatorial team’s study, development, and vision.

Tour Old Orange County Courthouse

Program for Artists-in-Residence

GCAC has been working for several years to transition away from a more typical residency model—one defined by specified dates, concrete results, and institutional constraints. The successful conclusion of a residence with artist Jules Rochielle that began in 2012 had a significant impact on GCAC’s institutional thinking and practices as they sought to reorient the program. Predetermined proposals and timeframes have been abandoned in favor of continual site visits and extended stays, which allow for a stronger emphasis on inquiry, discoveries, openness, and exploration. GCAC residencies are guided by questions rather than concrete expectations, with no predetermined outcome other than to support the artist’s creative process. Artist-in-residence programs emphasize social practice, including communities in projects that have personal significance.

This is the approach GCAC continues to pursue in its residencies, motivated by the concept that the actual creative process should be fluid and porous, not constrained or constrained from the start by constraints and preconceived notions. The system should be allowed to thrive, allowing for organic interaction, discovery, and influence. (Source: grandcentralartcenter.com)