Verge Center for the Arts — Attraction in Sacramento

I was a regional resident artist and this place is a disaster. Have proof that the executive director was Covid positive at her own art auction. Stipend payments were late almost every month I was there. There’s no hvac so it’s very cold in the winter and feels unsafe for heat illness during the Sacramento heat. Yet they received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding for building/studio improvements?

When I was a resident and tried to have representation for the Filipino community DURING Filipino American history month, the deputy director told me “why should I care, I’m not Filipino!”

They took 50% of my earning from a class I taught and tried to cancel it and barely promoted it. They also made me teach it outside in the cold so that the staff could teach a private clay class for a birthday party. I could tell the staff working was embarrassed and humiliated. I would often see staff crying. They also do not have a yearly report or any transparency on how they spend the money they raise and get grant funding for.

If you’re BIPOC or Lbgtq+ it appears they will make it very difficult for you just like they did to me. And according to the lawyer that represents them on their board, “this VERGE is not and never has been an institution composed of artists, run by artists or operated by artists”

There a mass exodus of artists and staff from this place due to the chaos, negligence and emotional instability from the...

I cannot speak about the Verge’s artist residency/studios; I can only shed light on the Clay Lab. Lark, Collin, and Jordan are the most welcoming and kind individuals. I am a relative newbie at clay and they have consistently made me feel welcomed, comfortable, and in a safe space. It is undoubtedly a supportive environment and community; you have beginners (like me), intermediates, and advanced. However, everyone is willing to guide and help each other from how to use a slab roller to which clay best suits your needs to how to make a pinch pot. I have to thank my wonderful friend first and foremost for introducing me to clay as it has changed my life for the better. Lark, Collin, and Jordan are also to be thanked for making it a continual joy, being patient teachers, and simply lovely individuals. I hope I put to rest any doubts you may have had about joining the Clay Lab. It is a challenging and rewarding experience, and a positive and fulfilling constant in these...

Unfortunately, the venue is not accessible to those outside of the select artists group?

The only support they offer local artists is when they pay them $100+ bucks for a little blurb in a color catalog. You pay to display!

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve applied for a studio residency and most the time. I don’t even receive a response. When I finally did see the Verge artist studios I was confused as to why some artists appear to be working out of a storage closet or something similar? I thought they were dedicated artist studios? I’m actually relieved that they didn’t choose me because then I would’ve been disappointed, I waited so long for one of those rinky dinky little studios.

They charged me 2 application fees for one of the residencies. When I inquired, there was...