About MAFA: Monrovia Association of Fine Arts is an all volunteer non-profit organization
whose key goals are to promote local artists and to provide mentoring opportunities
to encourage our young people to experience art and hopefully develop the future
leadership of MAFA. The active members have a great deal of energy and passion concerning
the visual fine arts. Membership is open to artists and non-artists alike. We need
non-artists who are skilled in organizational duties to continue our growth. MAFA
has had a renaissance in the last 10 or so years as more artists have come to the
area which has become an artist location or place. The organization has the potential
for even greater growth with our focus on a new 5-year plan.
MAFA History: The first art festival in 1964 lead to the incorporation of the Monrovia
Arts Festival Association in 1965. The vision of the founders and original Association
Board Members resulted in the enrichment of our lives by bringing fine arts to the
community. This vision has continued through the efforts of many since that humble
beginning. In 2008 the name of the organization was officially changed to Monrovia
Association of Fine Arts to better reflect our expanded mission of providing many
more art venues beyond the single art festival that began it all, and to focus more
on fine art.
Bill Beebe (right), MAFA president, enjoys the 2007 celebration with the artists
of the MUSD's Village Art Program, sponsored by MAFA during an artists reception
at the Focus One Gallery.
Today's Monrovia Association of Fine Arts continues that tradition. MAFA activities
in the community range from teaching art to local students in the Village After School
Program to organizing artists' shows in local galleries. Our commitment to the community
is to provide opportunities for interaction with the arts at events such as our October
2- day art show "Celebrate the Arts", a Festival of Fine Arts Event; the Summer Art
Walks; and the Spring fund raiser, "Acknowledge the Arts".
Future Goals: MAFA is developing a 5-year plan that includes the following sample
of goals:
- Seek outside grants and corporate donations so that our art shows can be less "fund
raisers" and more fine art venues for member artists to promote their work and be
available to mentor the up and coming young and student artists.
- Take the lead in the formation of an arts council made up of visual art groups, for
profit and non-profit art galleries, art studios, and art schools to coordinate activities
and share in advertising expenses to fill the community with as much art as possible.
- Create a permanent MAFA location complete with art studios for art training at all
ages.
To find out how you can help MAFA reach their goals.