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DOUGHERTY STATION COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER

Dougherty Station Community Center

The Dougherty Station Community Arts Center, built in 2005, was renovated and reopened with an arts focus on August 14, 2023. The renovated Arts Center is the hub of arts and culture in San Ramon featuring visual and performing arts classes, programs, and workshops. The Arts Center also hosts special events, performances, and workshops for our arts patrons and students.

 

Upcoming Community Events:

April 25 - Voices of San Ramon Open Mic Series: Peach & Acceptance

May 4-5 - Tri Valley Artist Studio Tour

May 4 - Childrens' Makers Market

May 23 - Voices of San Ramon Open Mic Series: Past & Future

 

Upcoming Programs:

For a list of upcoming programs and classes at the Dougherty Station Community Arts Center click here.

 

CREATIVE STUDIOS

Six creative studios are available for artists and makers to rent a private space to create and a dedicated space for their art.

The creative studios are approximately 120 square feet and have amenities such as ample parking, Wi-Fi, privacy, access to water, utility sink, clean restrooms, AC/Heat, breakroom, natural lighting, and storage.

Artists can apply to rent weekly, or monthly. Five artist studios will be available for month-to-month rentals up to a 6-month commitment, with one of the artist studios available daily, weekly, or monthly.

The rental fee is $395 per month for residents and $494 per month for non-residents with a $125 deposit. The weekly price is $125 for residents and $157 for non-residents and the daily price is $35 for residents and $44 for non-residents.

For more information, please see the Creative Studio Rental Policies.

Applications are now open! Click here to apply for a Creative Studio.

The first round of applications will be reviewed on April 29. If there is more interest than studios available, a lottery will be used to determine placement.  Creative Studios are expected to be available for move-in starting in early May.

For tours, questions, or more information please contact Adam Chow at [email protected].

 

SOUND STUDIOS

Two Sound Studios are available for instrument and voice lessons/practice, podcast recording, and voice recording, among other uses.

Both Sound Studios will be available to rent hourly. There is no equipment or storage included in the rental price. The rental fee for the music/sound studios is $20 per hour for residents or $25 per hour for non-residents/commercial customers with a $125 deposit.

For more information, please see the Sound Studio Rental Policies.

Applications are now openClick here to apply for a Sound Studio.

The first round of applications will be reviewed on April 29. Sound Studios are expected to be available for rent starting in early May.

For tours, questions, or more information please contact Adam Chow at [email protected].

 

Facility Reservations:

While the facility has an art focus, the facility is accessible to the entire community for facility rentals and non-art related community programs and events. For information on facility rental opportunities, please click here.

Dougherty Station Community Arts Center Information

The updated facility includes:

  • Expanded Dance Studio
  • Expanded Art Gallery
  • Green Room
  • Six Creative Artist Studios
  • Two Sound Studios
  • Two Community Rooms
  • Music Room

Additional arts classes, programs, and events include:

  • Expanded visual and performing art classes for all ages and abilities
  • Drop-in classes with flexible scheduling
  • Low-cost and free visual arts classes and workshops in a variety of new mediums
  • Open art studios for artists to develop and create in a supportive environment
  • Art Gallery Exhibits
  • Arts events
    • Open Mic Night
    • Art Gallery Receptions
    • Performances by local community groups
    • Artist Expo
    • Theatrical Rental Events

Goals of the facility:

  1. Provide affordable art programs for teachers and students.
  2. Provide more visual arts class offerings, including cultural programs, ceramics/sculpture, music, musical theater photography, dance, and crafts programs.
  3. Provide rental artist studio spaces for artists to create.
  4. Provide additional opportunities for artists to perform, exhibit, and sell goods.

History of Dougherty Station name:

In the time post-gold rush, according to local historian Beverly Lane, James W. Dougherty, an early American settler, bought most of Amador's land (given to Jose Maria Amador in 1834 by the Mexican government). By the late 1800s, Dougherty was the second largest landholder in the area and was a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. An inn was built by JW Dougherty called Dougherty's Station which was located on Dublin Road west of old Highway 21 which is now San Ramon Valley Road. In 1860 the first Post Office was established and called Dougherty's Station which was later changed to Dougherty in 1896. According to Dublin On-Line! `By 1878 the community known as Dublin, Amador's Dougherty Station or Dougherty, was officially named Dublin." On page 139 in Irma Dotson's book, San Ramon Branch Line of the Southern Pacific, there is excellent information on the Dougherty railroad station which is located about a mile east of the center of Dublin and 2 and 3/10 miles south of Forest Home Farms on the railroad line. According to Dotson, at one point JW Dougherty's son, Charles, tried to lay out a town around the railroad station area in the late 1800'swhich would have been at the intersection of Dougherty Road and the Southern Pacific right of way. This town did not become a reality and remained on file until 1967 when the proposed town of Dougherty was canceled.