Adeline and the mini micro mall
3192 Adeline Avenue, Berkeley CA 94703:
Firehouse Art Collective was started in 2004 when the first meetings were held more as creative collaborations in ceramics at the California College of the Arts in Oakland. A shared synergy was fostered between the main members Tom Franco, Joe Kowalczyk, Kjell Peterson, Matt Crum, and Alan Chin.
By 2005 formal meetings and planning was underway to leave the school setting and establish a physical location to continue the artwork and lifestyle. The first location was found and the hard work of creating an artist collective was actualized. Soon after in the timeline important manager roles were filled by artists Sara Kagan and Ofra Fisher.
Our collective model is one that has manager(s) supporting a location, usually also artists themselves, and then members sign up in the categories of studios, shared living, gallery event space, and retail projects such as cafes or shops, all under the premise that as a community-based model shared resources help everything grow.
The name Firehouse Art Collective came out of the first location in South Berkeley being rumored by the neighbors to be an old 1800s fire station with a horse and carriage fire truck. The name stuck.
Other managers to mention are musicians Dan Hodkinson and Will Crum at our first location.
At our 3rd and 6th locations artists Rory Terrell and Colin Hurley.
And at our 4th location Mojgan Saberi.
And at our 8th location Jessica Di Domenico Jordao.
In 2010, Tom Franco, as a founding member, took over the sole director position with the direct support of his first wife Julia Lazar. Over the 18 years of the Firehouse Art Collective there have been thousands of artists members and participants in all of the various activities.
Link to Article by Tom about The Emergence of an Art Collective.
Today, Firehouse Art Collective is partnering with different arts organizations to expand the scope of the mission. We are starting to develop physical locations in cities outside of the Bay Area.
Firehouse Films is a branch of the collective that focuses on film, tv, and documentary projects. These projects are led by producer Iris Torres Franco and Tom Franco.
Link to Firehouse Films Page or Website.
https://www.instagram.com/firehousefilmsnow/
Firehouse harmon street
1831-1835 Harmon Street, Berkeley CA, 94703:
Firehouse Art Collective managed shared apartments, edible back yard, art studios, music rehearsal and recording studio, wood shop. Two Micro storefronts. UFO Gallery in one of the storefronts.
Firehouse lottie rose house
This location has been open since May 2014.The Lottie Rose House is a beautiful old Victorian building, remodeled with modern amenities, while keeping the charm of old oak wood floors and a clean simple interior. It has fourteen private rooms that are rented monthly. It can be made into art studio, home office, bedroom, depending upon what you need as a live in artist. The prices vary by size and location in the building. It has four full bathrooms with new appliances and tiling, a large light kitchen with all new appliances to be shared communally with open large dining area and tables. Wifi, Garbage and utility fees will be shared as agreed upon lease signing.
Join us
Join the FAC Collaboration! Together we provide accessible and inclusive spaces for artists to create not only art, but community as well.
locations
The Firehouse Art Collective has multiple locations that serve multidisciplinary artists in Berkeley, Emeryville and Oakland, California.
our mission
Firehouse believes in giving anyone and everyone who loves to create access to affordable studio spaces and a welcoming community.
Sponsors
We are grateful for our sponsors that enable us to further our mission and outreach.
Events
Meet our community members during regular open studios and exhibition events.
Contact
We’re happy to chat. Contact us about events and studio leasing opportunities.