First Street Arts, Inc.
First Street Arts, formerly HQ Gallery, is a vibrant fine art space and a prominent part of Benicia's art culture. We showcase artists in a wide variety of media including acrylics, assemblage, ceramics, charcoal and ink, clay, collage, digital art, drawing and illustration, fabric art, metal, mixed media, oils, photography, printmaking, and watercolor. We are located near the waterfront, shops and restaurants in the historic Washington House Building. We welcome visitors from all over the Bay Area.
Originally named for the historic arsenal Headquarters Building, First Street Arts is an all volunteer-run gallery that was granted nonprofit status in January of 2023. Our purpose is to support, mentor, and provide gallery display space for unrepresented and underserved emerging artists and to increase the public’s awareness and knowledge about various media, artistic styles, and artist processes in the visual arts. Donations of any amount are always welcome.
Our programs include mentoring, education, and support of our artists in ways that include receptions, featured artists for our shows, and promotion on social media, in printed material, and in the local press. We partner with community nonprofit organizations including the Benicia Historical Museum, Benicia Literary Society, Benicia Main Street, City of Benicia, and other galleries to provide educational and cultural opportunities for the public. We will continue to expand our programming this year with artist demos, workshops, and creative gatherings for artists to network and share ideas.
