The Davis Arts Center (DAC) has donated approximately 100 artworks from its permanent collection to the Friends of the Davis Public Library for a sale starting this weekend. The works, mostly from the 1960s-1980s, include pieces by notable Davis-area artists such as Richard Nelson, Robert Arneson, Margery Mann, and Roland Petersen, and are priced under $100. The donation follows DAC's 2019 transformation from an exhibition space to a studio-focused nonprofit offering classes and camps, which led to most of its collection being placed in storage. DAC executive director Sam King enlisted Davis High School art teacher Luke Turner—a former museum professional—to help curate and place select pieces with institutions like the Mills College Art Museum and the Manetti Shrem Museum, while the remaining works are now being offered to the community at bargain prices.
This story matters because it illustrates how a small community arts organization can creatively repurpose its historical collection to both support local cultural institutions and engage the public. The sale not only makes art accessible at low cost but also preserves and shares the artistic legacy of Yolo County, reflecting a broader trend of nonprofit arts centers adapting their missions to serve community needs. By partnering with the library and involving local educators, DAC demonstrates a sustainable model for deaccessioning and redistributing art that prioritizes community benefit over commercial gain.