Medium Art Center in Ukiah, California, celebrates its five-year anniversary. Founded during the pandemic by a small team of local artists and community members including Chris Pugh and Lillian Rubie, the center began as an online exhibition series called "Dear America" before securing a vacant storefront at the Pear Tree Center in 2021. Run entirely by volunteers for its first three years, the center has hosted in-person exhibits, traditional Chinese brush painting workshops with artist William Shi, and outreach programs to support local artists. Recently, it received a grant from the RISE program administered through Redwood Coast Regional Center to support people with disabilities or neurodivergence.
This milestone matters because Medium Art Center exemplifies how grassroots, volunteer-driven arts organizations can thrive in rural communities with limited resources. By removing barriers to participation and discovering unsung local artists, the center has strengthened community connection and cultural expression in Ukiah. Its success offers a model for other small towns seeking to build sustainable arts infrastructure, especially in the wake of the pandemic's disruption to community life.