The Gift of Art - The Charles Curley Community Arts Grant Fund

For many years, Chuck Curley served on the Arts Council Community Arts Grants Panel, participating in the review and selection of grantees for projects between artists and members of the community who have little or no access to the experience and practice of the arts. He appreciated the creativity and caring of artists in their efforts to give back to their community.

Now, through contributions to the fund, and through the sale of selected pieces from the Curley Art Collection, the Charles Curley Community Arts Grants Fund with the Marin Arts Council Fund for Artists will ensure that the gift of art lives on in community arts grants.

The Curley Collection Story

For over 40 years, Nancy and Charles Curley of Larkspur collected art, predominately by Marin and Northern California artists. Their gift of this extensive collection to the Marin Arts Council in 2003 reflected the lifelong commitment of the Curleys to philanthropic endeavors that support the arts and their community.

The Curleys developed relationships with many of the artists whose work hung in their home and in the offices of Crent Paper Company, owned by Chuck Curley until his retirement. The hundreds of employees at the company were invited to select work for their offices as well as for the general hallways and meeting rooms. The Curley home was filled from top to bottom with art in and on every possible space.

Because the Curleys considered the act of collecting art to be a deeply personal, and sometimes emotional, gesture, many pieces are accompanied by commentary and unique stories from their inventory notes. Their affection for artists and the work they do is obvious. In turn, many of the artists in the collection have an enduring affection for the Curleys, and their own stories about their relationships with them.

Selected pieces from the collection are on exhibit and sale at the Marin Art Council, 555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael.
Proceeds will go directly to the Charles Curley Community Arts Grants Fund.