Hayward Area Forum of the Arts dba Sun Gallery

Hello to all of our supporters, members and community at large. Hope this finds you safe and well. We have established this GoFundMe to help with relief efforts at the Sun Gallery. During this time, we realize that many of you are also having financial challenges, so we are humbly asking you to help us only if  you are able to do so at this time. So far we have raised $1,000 from Facebook fundraisers and private donations, and we want to say thank you to everyone who contributed. We are still however are a great ways away financially from being able to resume normal operations.

The impacts of the Covid-19 virus and closure have devastated the Gallery’s finances, and on top of that, we suffered a major fire at the gallery which happened in April during the night and is suspected arson. The Sun Gallery has been closed with all of our staff on leave since the Shelter in Place Order started. Our deductible alone is $2,000 for the fire in itself.

Now we have the task of cleaning up the mess, repairing the outer wall of our classroom, and making the area safe again for Summer Camp, should we even be able to have it.

Our income comes mainly from the City of Hayward, Field Trips to the Gallery, our annual Fundraiser at City Hall, Summer Camp and Donations.

When the Shelter in Place Order started, we were in the process of taking down our Children's Book Illustrator Show and getting ready to install our Climate Change Show. The Climate Change Show has become one of our more popular shows and has generated much income over the last few years. Now it looks like, since there is no school, that income will be lost, along with, most likely, some of our City Grant because we have been unable to provide services.

We won't be able to advertise for Summer Camp since we do not have access to the schools, so we may have lost that income too. We estimate an income loss of over $30,000 so far, but depending on future Covid behavior and restrictions, that could be much higher or somewhat less, dependent on if we can resume some programs according to the State and local guidelines.

Between the field trips that were cancelled, the field trips that couldn’t be taught, the very low Summer Art Camp enrollments, the delay of our Climate Change Exhibit plus fire clean-up and repair, our year is unfortunately looking dismal. We would appreciate any and all financial or in-kind help at this point to be able to reopen the Gallery when restrictions are lifted. 

Thank you for your consideration and be well. - Dorsi Diaz (Sun Gallery Director and Curator)