Bedford Gallery, a program of the City of Walnut Creek, exhibits the work of historic, modern, and contemporary artists. The Gallery is dedicated to providing the public with opportunities to learn about visual arts through public programs that are varied, accessible, challenging, and educational. Its mission is to provide exhibitions and other programs that both reflect and engage the diverse audiences of the entire Contra Costa region. The Gallery organizes and presents four exhibitions each year. In addition, we occasionally offer lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and other kinds of public programs. Gallery docents give tours that include hands-on art projects to over 3,500 school children each year, in addition to tours for seniors and adult groups. Most of our School Tours are given at no cost to the schools, as we offer free tours for schools in Contra Costa County, as well as scholarships for buses. The approximately sixty volunteer members of the Bedford Gallery Docent Council receive professional training in both art history and teaching techniques. The Bedford Gallery Guild, a volunteer group of about 50 members, staffs the reception desk every day, hosts receptions and other special events, and produces annual fundraising events. With 3,500 square feet of exhibition space, Bedford Gallery is the largest community-based visual arts facility between the Bay Area and Sacramento. This contemporary art space is housed in the City of Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for the Arts, which also contains three theaters, as well as our fundraising partner Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA). As the non-profit partner for the Lesher Center for the Arts, DRAA's mission is to invest in artistic excellence and create avenues so that everyone can experience the drama, pageantry and thrill of the arts. The Gallery was originally founded in 1968 as the Civic Arts Gallery and was renamed for Peter and Kirsten Bedford, who donated generously to the Center's
