about_works (pdf download)
Works is your nonprofit, all-volunteer, community art and performance center.
Location and Contact:
Works/San José
38 South 2nd Street, San José, CA 95113
Email: gallery@workssanjose.org
Voicemail only (no physical phone): 408.300.6405
Gallery Hours:
Fridays 12–6 pm
Saturdays and Sundays 12–4 pm
(open hours are during exhibitions, no set hours between exhibitions)
Follow Works:
for event updates, like and follow Works on Facebook: facebook.com/workssanjose
join and post on our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/49741841733/
follow Works and tag photos #workssanjose on Instagram: instagram.com/workssanjose
follow Works and tweet with #workssanjose on Twitter: twitter.com/workssanjose
Founded in 1977 by local artists, Works/San José is an all-volunteer, non-profit, alternative art and performance center dedicated to providing a venue for artists, ideas, and images that expand the scope of cultural and artistic experience.
Mission statement: Works/San José believes that thriving communities support artistic experimentation. Therefore, we serve as the South Bay community’s creative laboratory where people can experiment, exhibit and engage with art and with each other. We achieve our mission by providing an accessible, supportive and welcoming art center.
exhibiting at Works:
Most exhibitions at Works are presented through our “guest curator” program described below. Works also hosts occasional open call exhibitions (usually once a year) and an annual member exhibition that are non-juried. Join Works’ e-list and follow Works on Facebook and Instagram for notices of these and other opportunities.
guest curator/gallery exhibitions:
Works hosts conceptual group exhibitions of three or more artists who plan to relate to audiences through community and/or artistic concerns. This program is responsible for most of Works’ programming, and allows us to present a broad variety of viewpoints and creative statements. Applications to this program must include a group of artists brought together in a strong conceptual framework. We encourage prospective applicants to discuss concepts in advance of submission with Board of Directors members, and to visit and see documentation of curated exhibitions (as opposed to member and open call exhibits). Download the criteria and application instructions here:
works_exhibit_criteria
works_exhibit_application
other programs:
performance and music: since its inception, Works/San José has been the performance art venue in the south bay presenting an eclectic array of artists. This program includes monthly Well-RED readings presented with Poetry Center San José (pcsj.org), and bi-monthly Flash Fiction Forum (flashfictionforum.com). Contact Works about presenting performance art, music, film, theater, spoken word, etc.
artist development: Works provides educational professional development opportunities for artists at every level of career development, including workshops, lectures, and creative events. The exhibition programs at Works/San José are unique professional development opportunities in which artists/curators are assisted and/or mentored through the production of their exhibition.
our funders
Works is supported by individual members and donors, and is funded in part by:
City of San José, Office of Cultural Affairs – http://www.sanjoseculture.org/index.shtml
Silicon Valley Creates – http://www.svcreates.org/
California Arts Council – https://arts.ca.gov/
Applied Materials Foundation – http://www.appliedmaterials.com/company/corporate-responsibility/society
and a significant bequest from the Ray Ashley Trust
San Jose Museum of Art – http://www.sjmusart.org/
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art – http://www.sjica.org/
Phantom Galleries – http://www.populuspresents.com/main/pg/
Anno Domini – http://www.galleryad.com/
Villa Montalvo – http://www.villamontalvo.org/
Moviemiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) – http://www.maclaarte.org/
New Museum of Los Gatos – https://www.numulosgatos.org/
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History – http://www.santacruzmah.org/
Palo Alto Arts Center – http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/artcenter/
Triton Museum of Art – http://www.tritonmuseum.org/
Pacific Art League – http://www.pacificartleague.org/
University Museums/Galleries
Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery (SJSU) – https://www.sjsu.edu/art/places/thompsongallery/
SJSU Tuesday Night Lecture Series – https://www.sjsu.edu/art/events/lectures/
de Saisset Museum (Santa Clara University) – http://www.scu.edu/desaisset/
Cantor Center for the Visual Arts (Stanford) – http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ccva
Cabrillo gallery (Cabrilllo College) – http://www.cabrillo.cc.ca.us/divisions/vapa/artgellery/
Euphrat Museum (De Anza College) – http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/euphrat