Our History
The roots of the Stanislaus Arts Council began as the CCAA (Central California Art Association) and date to the late 1940’s, with the formal designation recognized in 1951. It was conceived as an artist’s co-op to help members exhibit, sell, and rent their creations. After being housed at several locations, the organization’s primary site became the basement of McHenry Museum in 1972. Formal recognition as a non-profit organization came in 1987 under the name, Central California Art League.
In 2004, with the aid of a member bequest, the organization moved to its present location at 1015 J Street. After several years of shared finances with Tony Mistlin, a ten-year arrangement was arranged to name the location the Mistlin Gallery, whereby he would assume sole responsibility for the rent of the space until the end of 2023.
Specific dates for the formation of the original Stanislaus Arts Council no longer exist for a variety of reasons, including a fire that destroyed records. The creation of the first Arts Council in Stanislaus County occurred in the late 1970’s with the County’s support and with Grace Lieberman hired as the first director. The California Arts Council was founded in 1976 and made funds available for this project. Grace left this position after a brief time to head up another county’s arts council but returned for a second and final term with Stanislaus County, lasting until her retirement and closing of the program in 2012.
In 2018, an inquiry to the California Arts Council revealed that no formal relationship with that organization was in evidence and had not been for 6 or 7 years. At that time, Stanislaus County was one of 3 counties in the state that did not have its own arts council. CCAA, the inquiring body, was encouraged to apply for an SLP (State Local Partner) grant to revive the program. Stanislaus County and the California Arts Council approved the application and the grant was awarded to CCAA in 2019, in time for the first COVID-19 shut-down.
Although activities were severely restricted over the following two years, CCAA took several major steps toward creating an arts council that will be representative of the artists and arts organizations that make Stanislaus County a special place for creativity in the Central Valley.
In 2023, CCAA officially began doing business as the Stanislaus Arts Council, overseeing operations of the Mistlin Gallery and uplifting art for all of Stanislaus County.