Discover the power of creative connections and read inspiring success stories! Explore how CaFÉ has helped
connect art organizations with artists nationwide, streamline their processes, and foster a thriving artistic community.
Stories of Creative Connection
Celebrating Mixed Cultures with Public Art
New Mexico Arts
New Mexico Arts, the state arts agency of New Mexico, operates within the Department of Cultural Affairs, one of the largest cultural departments in the U.S. With a mission to bring art into the lives of all New Mexicans, the organization oversees the Art in Public Places (AIPP) program, and aims to enrich all 33 counties with public art. To support this mission, New Mexico Arts usesCaFÉ to administer public art opportunities for artists in its state, with over 80 public art opportunities since 2008.
Cultivating a Vibrant Arts Hub
d'Art Center
Founded in 1986, the d’Art Center is a vibrant arts hub in the NEON Arts District at the Atlantic Permanent Building in Norfolk, VA. In addition to resident artist studios and multiple activity rooms, the facility features three galleries. The Main Gallery and Vault have monthly, rotating exhibitions with new and nationally curated exhibitions, and the Artist Wing displays frequently updated work from community artists. The d’Art Center’s mission is to connect the community and artists and foster an appreciation for visual art through interactive opportunities to watch, create, learn, and enjoy diverse artistic works.
Supporting Artists & Building Community
Shoebox Arts
Shoebox Arts emerged a decade ago to assist artists in marketing their exhibitions and artwork. Over time, it expanded its horizons beyond Los Angeles, offering additional resources, education, mentorship, and public relations support to artists internationally. Later, Shoebox Projects was added as an alternative art space at the Brewery Arts Complex near downtown LA that hosts residencies, exhibitions, and more.
Connecting the Community to the Arts
Galesburg Community Arts Center
The Galesburg Community Arts Center is a small but influential arts organization serving a four to five-county region in rural west-central Illinois. Founded in 1923 as the Galesburg Civic Art League (later changing its public name to the Galesburg Community Arts Center), the center connects its community to the arts through exhibitions, community events, and an artist residency program, among other art-making programs.
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Bringing Art to the Streets
The Paseo Project
The Paseo Project is a nonprofit arts organization located in Taos, New Mexico. Made up of a small team of four, it’s brought art to the streets since 2014 through the annual PASEO festival, Artist in Residence program, and community-based public art projects.
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CaFÉ Online Exhibitions
CaFÉ has been hosting online exhibitions to celebrate the artists who make up the CaFÉ community. Since 2019, these exhibitions have offered a way to showcase artists beyond the boundaries of a physical gallery, leveraging the CaFÉ platform’s reach to bring new visibility to the artworks and introduce more artists to creative opportunities. Explore the exhibitions below.
Space is Weird, So Are We
Space Is Weird, So Are We is the fifth in a series of online exhibitions sponsored by CaFÉ, a program of Creative West, to honor, highlight, and celebrate the artists who make up the CaFÉ community. This online exhibition showcases 105 artworks from both national and international artists. From this group, nine artists were chosen to receive cash prizes by a unique internal jury panel from Creative West. This diverse panel selected the winners using a fresh, community-centered lens.
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50 Years, 50 Artists: A Celebration of the West
Marking Creative West’s (formerly WESTAF) 50th anniversary, 50 Years, 50 Artists: A Celebration of the West invited artists to explore the infinite threads of time. This exhibition dives into the echoes of memory, the pulse of the present, and visions of what lies ahead, offering a unique tapestry of perspectives on the passage of time. Through these 50 unique works, we celebrate the stories that have shaped our region and the ever-evolving spirit of the West.
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MUD Foundation
CaFÉ and Creative West have partnered with the MUD Foundation to bring these online exhibitions to life. MUD was founded as a 501(c) 3 organization in 2018 by the Cuban-born, US-based media artist Rodolfo Peraza to create art + tech programs and foster the art and tech community in Miami and beyond. MUD Foundation is an innovative nonprofit organization dedicated to the exploration of art, technology, and education. The organization is focused on expanding the possibilities when the internet, data, extended reality (XR), and art intersect.
MUD’s Mission
The mission of the MUD Foundation is to facilitate educational and artistic projects that foster awareness of contemporary digital culture and its impact on society. They believe in the transformative power of art and technology, and strive to spark creativity and bridge communities, artists, and technology partners in order to promote inclusivity through their initiatives.
