Concord Arts
DISCOVERING THE THRIVING ARTS, CULTURE, AND MUSIC OF CONCORD WITH ITS LOCATION IN THE HEART OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT CONCORD BOASTS A LIVELY ARTS, MUSIC, AND CULINARY SCENE.
What Concord brings to the table is an intimate, authentically local scene that puts Bay Area artists front and center. Consider this your insider’s guide to uncovering Concord’s unique cultural landscape, with tips for how to enjoy the arts, where to catch live music, and the best places to sample the local flavor.
ENJOY THE ARTS IN CONCORD
From painting to photography to sculpture, the visual arts community in Concord centers around They include the aRt Cottage, near Downtown Concord. This quaint gallery showcases local Bay Area artists, with new exhibits coming in each month. You can even check out these galleries at home digitally!
The cottage itself immediately engages artists and art enthusiasts with its inviting exterior and beautiful floral accents. Of equal interest is owner FROgard Schmidt, who was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States in the 1950′s. After studying art in places like San Francisco State and Florence, Italy she now shares what she has learned with other artists.
POPS OF COLOR AND LIFE
For local art enthusiasts, these pops of art surprise and engage eyes when least expected.
ART BOX PROJECT:
If you’ve been to downtown Concord, you may have noticed the colorful utility box art. The artwork celebrates Concord’s popular Music and Market series.
In March 2019, Concord City Council approved a proposal for the project by the Concord Art Association. Funding comes from private donations and CAA’s reserves, with the city adding a portion from a fund designated for public art.
CAA, in collaboration with the city of Concord, selected 11 local artists to paint or vinyl wrap utility boxes around Todos Santos Plaza.
Concord Murals:
TRADER JOE'S
Trader Joe’s impresses shoppers with eye catching murals inside their store at Oak Grove Plaza. Shoppers see how the store connects with their community with painted images of iconic locations like Mt. Diablo, Concord Pavilion and Todos Santos Plaza.
SALVIO STREET
One of the most treasured murals is on Salvio Street. Hand-painted by Bay Area Muralist Dan Fontes, it depicts a 4th of July street scene in 1894 inspired by an album of Ruth Galindo’s, granddaughter of Concord’s founder.
VERANDA SHOPPING CENTER
In the Veranda Shopping Center, Cost Plus also honors its hometown of Concord with a large painted map on the store’s wall.
OAK GROVE PLAZA
Another wall in Oak Grove Plaza immediately grabs your attention with its splashes of colorful paint spilling out of three cans. It’s also memorable as it was created to honor Oak Grove Plaza founder David Zimmerman by his daughters.
