Carnegie Art Cornerstones is committed to promote creativity, learning and growth in the careers of artists, and to inspire passion and appreciation for arts and culture in Oxnard and Southern California.
Please donate to our Annual Fund Drive so Carnegie Art Cornerstones can remain vigilant in preserving the Carnegie Art Museum legacy and remain committed to supporting important art and artist development projects in our region.
This next year will be critical in our effort to preserve the Permanent Collection and reopen the Carnegie Art Museum! In 2024 we continued to advance the career growth of artists and expand appreciation for arts and culture in Oxnard and Southern California. Our public survey for community input on the future of the Carnegie Art Museum garnered overwhelming support. We joined forces with the Save Oxnard’s Art Committee and executed a campaign to educate the city council members on the need to preserve both the collection and the museum. Our student art contest Emerging exhibited work from 35 artists and supported XX students with cash awards. 
Fall Update
Since September 12, 2023 when the City Manager, Alex Nguyen, submitted a proposal to the Community Services, Public Safety, Housing and Development Committee for the Carnegie and the Permanent Collection that did not include reopening the Carnegie as an art museum, we have been working diligently to counter that action.
The Carnegie Art Cornerstones completed two rounds of a survey gathering community input. We have three board members who are now also part of the Save Oxnard’s Art Committee. When the City hired a contractor to evaluate the collection and research methods for selling some of the art, we pushed back on the potential sale. We understand and support that certain cultural artifacts donated to the collection in the early 20th century need to be returned to their respective groups while we work to protect the art. We have had the opportunity to check on the conditions for the storage of the art and are pleased that things look good. The committee has had numerous meetings with the Mayor and City Council members over the past year educating them on the cultural, educational and financial importance of access to the art for Oxnard and the larger Southern California region, citing our survey results as a show of community support. Following November’s election, we will need to educate the incoming council members and garner their support. This next year will be crucial. We are awaiting the City’s release of the report of the evaluation of the collection which is now projected to be in the spring. |
A Message from your Carnegie Art Cornerstones Board
The time for action is now! Be informed. In light of the City’s proposal to not reopen the Carnegie as a museum, the Carnegie Art Cornerstones Board would like to share some information that raises essential questions about the role of the Carnegie Art Museum and the Permanent Collection in the community. We have significant concerns about the effects of a permanent closure as a museum and the deaccession (selling) of the Permanent Collection on artists, students of all ages, and the community at large, financially, educationally and culturally.
Please check out these links:
What of the Carnegie? City officials, art lovers and community continue to grapple over the future of Oxnard's cultural institution
Please help us continue this support of artist events!
You can send your contribution by check to: Carnegie Art Cornerstones PO Box 567 Oxnard, CA 93032 Or donate on-line here: |
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