Mission
First Street Gallery Art Center is founded on the proposition that human potential for creativity and artistic expression is not limited by physical or intellectual disabilities. Through cultivation of artistic expression, people with significant challenges can develop creatively and make important contributions to the cultural and economic life of their communities.
First Street Gallery is a program of the Tierra del Sol Foundation, a charitable, 501 (c)(3) human service organization established in 1971. Tierra operates fourteen programs, including First Street Gallery and NEXUS in Claremont, Community Integration Services in Van Nuys, and twelve other services operating out of Tierra’s administrative campus in Sunland. These programs share a common mission: to enable individuals with developmental and multiple disabilities to realize their greatest human potential, become as independent as possible within their families and communities, and establish a valued role in society.
Art Center
First Street Gallery Art Center provides clients with professional art training and exhibition resources. In the Center’s studio, around 50 artists create original works of art in a range of media including: painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture and collage. First Street’s staff is made up of professional artists whose role it is to help facilitate these projects and provide guidance when needed.
Gallery and Venues
An integral part of the programming at First Street Gallery Art Center is the Gallery. First Street operates a professional gallery where every artist has an opportunity to display and sell his/her work. The exhibition schedule includes approximately five shows per year, most of which are dedicated to showing solely client work. Additionally, First Street also involves community members and guest artists through public workshops and collaborative projects.
First Street artists also participate in many off-site exhibitions and venues, both nationally and internationally. The Gallery’s goals are to get as much exposure and recognition as possible for our artists’ work, and to assist our clients in promoting and advocating for their own professional art careers. Artists earn a 60% commission on art sales.
NEXUS Community Services
In addition to First Street Gallery, Tierra del Sol has expanded to offer the NEXUS program in the Inland Empire area. The NEXUS Program offers young adults with developmental disabilities the support they need to develop professional careers. With a Path Plan that is designed around the individual, each NEXUS client is able to embark upon a community service and adult education path that best matches his or her interests and needs. Providing a positive alternative to traditional post-high school options, NEXUS fully involves these young adults in community life and helps them gain the skills needed to successfully transition into paid employment and all aspects of community life.
How to Apply
To find out more information about First Street Gallery or NEXUS, or to set up a tour of our programs, please contact us by phone, (909) 626-5455 or e-mail.
For First Street Gallery
Rebecca Hamm, Program Director- rhamm@tierradelsol.org
or
Rose Rios, Client Coordinator- rrios@tierradelsol.org
For NEXUS
Rebecca Hamm, Program Director- rhamm@tierradelsol.org
or
Monique Vasquez, Area Supervisor- mvasquez@tierradelsol.org
Many of Tierra’s highly regarded service programs are funded by the Regional Center system of California. To learn more about eligibility to become a client of Tierra del Sol through the regional center, visit one of the following links:
Increasingly restricted eligibility for public, no-cost funding has led many families to ask for the option to pay for services they believe are important to their family member, but cannot be funded through Regional Centers or other public sources. As a result, Tierra del Sol will provide intake, assessment and service recommendations for self-referring families. In addition to the array of direct service options that may be purchased, Tierra has developed an expertise in personalized life-long future planning and family support case management utilizing the PATH planning model. Fee schedules are published annually. Limited partial scholarships may be available based upon need.
For more information about referrals for Privately Funded Services and Supports, contact:
Rebecca Lienhard, Director- Community Integration Services: rlienhard@tierradelsol.org
