Mission: Inspire, enrich, and interlace Eastern Oregon communities through creative expression.
Founded in 1977 as Eastern Oregon Regional Arts Council, Art Center East is a member-based arts services 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in La Grande, Oregon, in an historic Carnegie Library.
Regionally ACE provides arts education to K-8 students and teachers across Eastern Oregon through the Artists in Rural Schools program, serving 80% Title I or low-income schools at no cost to families.
Locally, ACE provides residents of and visitors to La Grande with an average of 150 art classes and experiences per quarter, community music ensembles and lessons, heritage dance classes. In addition, annual events take place like Handmade Holidays that feature work of local artists, and three galleries exhibit work of national and international artists to our rural community. Our juried Gift Gallery exhibits and sells the artwork of over 40 regional artists.
The three galleries and Handmade Holidays offer valuable product exposure and revenue streams for local, artist-owned small businesses, helping to incubate a strong arts economy and contribute to the $1.2 million in economic activity generated by the arts culture sector in Northeast Oregon.
Art Center East is proud to partner with local and statewide organizations to offer arts programming to underserved communities. Current partnerships include Eastern Oregon University, La Grande Farmers Market, Shelter from the Storm, Union County Juvenile Department, Northeast Oregon Arts Trail Map, Union County Chamber of Commerce, Cook Memorial Libary, and more.
We would love to have you join us! See our Membership page for details.