OCCCA is one of the longest running artist run co-op galleries in the USA
Artist Membership
OCCCA membership applications are peer reviewed by OCCCA artists. Accepted
artists participate in great exhibits with lively opening nights in a historic building
owned by OCCCA, an all-volunteer non-profit arts organization dedicated to
excellence in contemporary art in existence since l980
OCCCA accepts for review, membership applications from emerging, mid-career
and accomplished artists with a desire to participate in a historic on-going vision
of Orange County’s future impact on themselves along with local, regional and
national art and culture. Contemporary artists working in painting, sculpture,
installation art, photography, film, video, new media, performance art and
experimental new genres are encouraged to apply.
Prospective candidates need to have an interest in influencing contemporary art
and culture through their own artwork and OCCCA community service.
Prospective artist-member candidates need to have innovative and exciting
artwork along with the time and energy available to participate in a dynamic,
multi-faceted organization of dedicated artists who experience and expect a high
degree of camaraderie and commitment.
OCCCA thrives in the spirit of volunteerism. OCCCA directors receive no salary.
This is a pure grassroots organization that works on the passion and creativity of
its members, who are artists themselves. Therefore, by being a member you are
an active participant in its vision and future. We are not beholden to anyone but
our standards and community.
OCCCA Membership Application Process
Phase 1
Apply by e-mail to info.occca@gmail.com
1. Three (3) images of current work (1280 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi)
Please format the file names with (FirstName_LastName_Title.jpeg)
2. Include a brief description of your artwork
3. Include an exhibition history and your resumé
4. Include a website link of your work
5. Send a $30.00 application fee via PayPal to info.occca@gmail.com
(If you are accepted as a member this fee will go towards your first month of dues)
or
Mail your check to:
OCCCA / New Member Application
117 North Sycamore St
Santa Ana, CA 92701 USA
E-mail your application here
Please put in subject line: New Membership Application [your name, date]
Phase 2
Upon review of your application, the Artist Members will decide the following:
A. Approval of your membership application at which time we will ask for you to present your work in person,
and to discuss yourself and your work with the current membership. Or:
B. More information from you is needed. Or:
C. Decline your application and encourage you to continue making your art and re-apply in six months.
Phase 3
After your presentation, the Artist membership will discuss your application and artwork, then vote to
determine whether or not to approve your application as an artist member. If it is approved, the first three
months serve as a probation period to determine if the gallery is a good fit for you and you've proven to be a
quality proactive good fit member.
Artist Member Basic Duties:
- Monthly member dues $40
- Belong to two committees
- Participate in installing of exhibitions
- Attend monthly meetings
- Attend exhibition opening receptions
- Sit the gallery during open hours
Artist Member Benefits
There are many reasons an artist will benefit from being an Artist Member.
- Opportunity for professional career growth in a variety of professional gallery operational and management areas such as exhibition design, curation, lighting, signage and more
- Opportunity for periodic solo, two or three artist exhibitions featuring your artwork
- Opportunity to have a 360 degree self-guided tour of your exhibit hosted online
- Opportunity to network with curators, prominent gallery and museum professionals
- Opportunity to participate in annual December OCCCA all artist-member exhibitions
- No-fee entry to all OCCCA prominently juried open calls for art
- Opportunity for your artwork on all of OCCCA’s social media platforms with links to your website from OCCCA’s website
- Availability of OCCCA’s 10,000+ art-lovers emailing list
- Availability to OCCCA’s professionally generated press release blasts on Constant Contact
- Opportunity for promotion and exposure to more than 35 art writers and publications for
coverage and interviews
- Opportunity to periodically be featured in OCCCA’s newsletter to present information about
your artwork along with any outside exhibitions or projects
- Opportunity for membership in one of the longest-established, over 40 year old, all volunteer, no admission fee for entry, artist-run and owned community-minded galleries in the Country
- Being a member of a dedicated, close-knit artist community of professionals
- Opportunity to be part of a contemporary art focused organization that functions without the
specter of censorship or exhibition content control
- Opportunity to creatively explore and/or present events such as performance art, music, panel discussions book-signings
- Opportunity for project grant writing and community implementation
- Opportunity to provide art lessons in local public schools
- Opportunity to provide in-gallery workshops
- Opportunity to have your artwork featured on OCCCA’s artist postcards
- Opportunity to promote any of your postcards, business cards, catalogs or books in OCCCA’s gallery shop space
Friends of OCCCA
Individuals from any background that want to support a gallery, through volunteerism, donations, ideas and dialogue.
Working under the supervision of the Directors, Friends of OCCCA will assist with the weekly tasks that culminate in the gallery's exhibitions, programs and special events. The Gallery offers the chance for individuals to learn thr various tasks in running a gallery to volunteering their time and expertise to further OCCCAs mission.
- No fees/dues
- Can participate in meetings
- Non-voting
Areas of Concentration
- Fundraising
- Graphic Design and Marketing
- Exhibitions
- Special Events
- Art Education
- Not listed? Let us know your interest!
Application form
|