In Fall 2020, Katherine Sherwood accepted a position on the Board of Directors at Creative Growth Art Center, an internationally recognized non-profit based in Oakland, California that serves artists with disabilities by providing a professional studio environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition, and representation.
Sherwood has long been a supporter of Creative Growth, teaching its history in her Art Medicine and Disability course at UC Berkeley, and often placing her students as interns in the Creative Growth teaching program.
As an artist with a disability Sherwood is uniquely prepared to represent the interests of artists and staff at Creative Growth.
The artists of Creative Growth
CREATIVE GROWTH ART CENTER is a non-profit based in Oakland, California that serves artists with disabilities by providing a professional studio environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition, and representation.
Founded in 1974, Creative Growth is a leader in the field of arts and disabilities, establishing a model for a creative community guided by the principle that art is fundamental to human expression and that all people are entitled to its tools of communication.
The Creative Growth Gallery exhibits and represents artwork by Creative Growth artists, securing a place for their work in major collections and institutions worldwide. It presents public exhibitions in the Oakland gallery and represents Creative Growth artists at national and international art fairs every year.
As a non-profit gallery, the sale of each artwork is split 50-50 between the artist and Creative Growth, which uses the proceeds to purchase materials and keep the program running.
The pandemic forced Creative Growth to close its doors, but they kept the community connected, engaged, and creating art through online programs, home art supply deliveries, and one-on-one support.
This July, they will resume in-person programs while also continuing to offer virtual classes, ensuring everyone has access to resources that empower them to pursue their creativity.