The Sanctuary is a project of Creative Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a playground for creative action and community connection. Housed in the Arcata Women’s Club historic building within the ancestral territory of the Wiyot people, the Sanctuary is dedicated to making and experiencing art in community.

We host bimonthly gallery exhibitions, live music, community and private events, workshops, studio space and resources for local makers, seasonal art markets, a free neighborhood potluck and art night, an extensive audio and literary music and art library, and curate an “abundance vortex” whereby we receive and re-distribute donations, from art supplies and tools to locally-made bread.

We offer both private and shared studio space, and access to labs for a variety of art disciplines. The recording studio, letterpress and printmaking facilities, silkscreen workshop, ceramics lab, book making resources, and jewelry-making room are available through our “Beginner Art” and “Casual” Labs, through low cost rentals, and as part of our work trade program.

We also produce several annual community events including the Donation Dash, in partnership with CalPoly to divert waste from landfill when students move out of the dormitories; Summer at the Sanctuary, a multigenerational event celebrating school teachers and the end of the school year through art play and music; the Puppet Slam, an annual short form puppet theater family event.