501(c)(3)

CARMEL VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION’S

Non-Profit Story

Carmel Valley Art Association (CVAA) promotes local art and artists—it’s the heart of our vision and purpose. CVAA’s transition to non-profit 501(c)(3) status enables us to expand both volunteer and grant-based resources, which serves to further our reach and support of this community of local artisans.

Since 2006, CVAA co-founders John and Shelley Aliotti have poured their heart and souls in to gathering this community of artists and forming the gallery. The CVAA gallery is the oldest and largest fine art gallery in the Carmel Valley area, now featuring 30 unique local artists who create in varying mediums from oil, acrylic & watercolor paintings to glass, wood & bronze sculpture, photography, jewelry, and mixed media.

Opportunities for artistic enrichment and education are limited in this small remote community. CVAA serves as an artistic nexus, providing location, promotion and environment for artists, the local community, and the visiting public to converge for mutual benefit. The ever-changing variation of art pieces, along with transitions in display and multi-channel promotion attract approximately 500 unique visits and 100 sales per month.

The abundance of creativity and talent in this “artist-colony-esque” community is impressive. Yet many artists lack the information, know-how, and reach to gain exposure, earn a living, or share their gift. The gallery itself, paired with CVAA’s multiple information and promotional channels, enable members to garner confidence and exposure while building connections to support themselves. Further, the CVAA supports and promotes member artists by hosting numerous activities on site during the year, while also participating in community ‘pairings’ at other venues—resorts, lodges, wineries, parks, and local chamber of commerce events, festivals, etc. A unique, special feature of CVAA’s gallery is the “Meet & Greet” artist of the day who welcomes visitors.

Current CVAA membership consists of Featured and Emeritus Artists. Non-profit status will enable us to extend membership inclusion to associate artists, friends of CVAA (community-based), and emerging artists, which in turn supports and promotes the interconnection between artists, the local community, and the visiting public.

The CVAA earned the Carmel Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Business Star Award for Artist / Gallery of the Year for 5 years and was also selected for the Monterey County Business Council’s Creative & Technology Economic Vitality Award in 2015.

The Carmel Valley Art Association (CVAA) is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 37-1945902, and all donations are tax-deductible within the limits of the law. Please consider making a donation today.

The Carmel Valley Art Association (CVAA) is the recipient of grants from The Arts Council for Monterey County and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 2020.

CVAA Board of Directors

John A. Aliotti, President, Shelley A. Aliotti, Executive Director, Mary Ann Leffel, Treasurer, Maria Mercedes-Londono Pinzon, Vice President, Kelli Uldall, Marketing, Peggy Hutton, Secretary, Colleen Marquez, Community Liason/Social Media, Valerie Fermor, Events

CVAA Advisory Board

Sam Johnston, CVAA Gallery Manager, Peggy Hutton, Secretary, Robin Sutherlin, Kimberly Belleci, Bookkeeper, Kristen Calcatera, Graphics/Web Design, Mireille Barmann, Will Bullas, Shelley A. Cost, Thomas Hawley, Mary C. Masten, Daphne Wynne Nixon