JACKSONVILLE’S ART PRESENCE ART CENTER

December 2024

Art CenterArt Presence Art Center, a member-based nonprofit business at 206 N. 5th Street in Jacksonville, is celebrating 13 years in business in 2025. In 2009, the gallery’s founder, Anne Brooke, and a group of local artists, began working with local businesses creating what became known as the Art Amble. 

Businesses and local shops provided venues for local artists to show their work, creating a walking gallery of local art. Around 2012, when the historical Jackson County Jail became available, the City chose to lease it to this small art organization, and Art Presence Art Center opened its doors as a nonprofit, membership gallery. 

The building had been used as a jail until the 1940’s and was empty for many years until it became a Children’s Museum for a while. 

As a gallery, it still shows its previous jail decor, including burlap walls, concrete structure, and jail bars around the center loft. Through the years, new carpet was installed, the burlap became drywall, and the space evolved into a popular art gallery. 

Located in the Jacksonville Historic District, which was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1966, Art Presence Art Center, in its 12th year, is the only fine art gallery and art education center in town. Jacksonville, which is listed as one of the top ten small towns in the U.S., also sits in the center of one of the world’s top five wine destinations, Rogue Valley Wine Country. 

Art Presence is operated by a board of directors that are formed from a mix of artist members and community members. 

It was created to fill the need for a co-op type gallery in Jacksonville. As a cooperative art gallery and art center, it is run by a board and 30+ artist members, who show their work in the main gallery. 

Some of the members and other local artists also offer smaller artwork, jewelry, and other items for sale in the Gift Gallery.

An inspirational gallery is filled with a variety of art, from more traditional media such as watercolor and pastel to amazing large wood sculptures and whimsical lamps. The Gift Gallery offers lots of smaller, unique items that make great gifts any time of the year.

As a non-profit, the Art Presence also offers educational experiences to local schools and the general public. One of its members teaches an art elective class at Jacksonville Elementary School, with their works shown in the Center’s upstairs classroom and meeting room. 

Every month, they offer a hands-on class, Messy Hands, that allows people of all ages to explore different artistic approaches. 

They are also starting a local after-school art club with Jacksonville (and hopefully other) schools. In addition, they sell books by local artists and occasionally offer author readings.

Hours are noon-5 Fri-Sun, and beginning January 2nd, they’ll be open Wed-Sun, noon-5. 

For more info, the phone number is 541-414-3234. You can also see them at art-presence.org and on Facebook and Instagram.