HSU First Street Gallery

HSU First Street Gallery (later HSU Third Street Gallery)

Company type	Non-profit
Industry	Art gallery
Founded	1998
Defunct	September 2018
Headquarters	Eureka , United States
Area served	North Coast, California
Owner	Humboldt State University

HSU First Street Gallery—which was later renamed HSU Third Street Gallery—functioned as a contemporary fine arts venue situated initially in the E. Janssen Building at 422 1st Street and subsequently relocated to 416 3rd Street within Eureka, California's Old Town area. Operating as a non-profit entity affiliated with Humboldt State University's Exhibition Programs, the gallery served as an off-campus public outreach space, presenting works by regional, national, and international artists as well as creations from university faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Due to budgetary reductions, Humboldt State University discontinued the gallery's operations in September 2018.

Mission

The gallery's purpose was to offer both the North Coast community and Humboldt State University access to contemporary art produced by a diverse range of artists. It featured a visiting artists initiative and was entirely managed by HSU students who collaborated with the Museum and Gallery Practices program housed within the Art Department. A key focus was placed on environmentally responsible practices. Additionally, Art Education students incorporated exhibitions into their academic programs while engaging with local K-12 schools. From its inception in 1998 through 2018, the gallery concentrated on promoting conversations about contemporary cultural topics and enhancing community involvement in the arts through numerous exhibitions.

History

Established in 1998 by Humboldt State University, First Street Gallery drew an annual audience exceeding 20,000 visitors.

Programs

Serving as an educational platform for students enrolled in the Museum and Gallery Practices Program, First Street Gallery also operated as a service-learning venue for HSU's Art Education Program, which involved collaboration with local K-12 students. The Visiting Artists Program facilitated the arrival of national and international artists to California’s North Coast region, thereby broadening local exposure to varied contemporary artistic expressions.

Events

The gallery actively participated each month in Eureka's Arts Alive! celebration by opening its exhibitions to the public alongside other area galleries and museums. These occasions typically featured opening receptions that provided attendees with direct interaction opportunities with exhibiting artists.

External links

• First Street Gallery website
• Third Street Gallery website
• Humboldt State University