The Center for ArtEsteem will be leading a hands-on art activity at Claremont Branch to help us celebrate National Night Out and Claremont's 100th year. This activity will be for all ages and for all levels of experience. The Center for ArtEsteem empowers individuals to be self-aware and inspired through art, creativity, and education, and to make positive choices to break the cycle of violence for themselves and their communities. In all of their work, they promote to understanding that we can choose peace over conflict and love over fear.
Founded in 1989 by Aeeshah and Kokomon Clottey, the Center for ArtEsteem offers educational programs, professional development workshops, exhibitions, public murals and community-based arts engagement to cultivate personal, collective and environmental awareness, wellness, leadership, and action. Please visit their website for more information at https://www.ahc-oakland.org/artesteem.
Tonight's program is the first in a series of events to celebrate the first 100 years of the Claremont Branch Library. Join us for creativity, cake, and conversation as we mark a milestone in the community.
In 1924, the Claremont Branch Library opened in its current home at 2940 Benvenue Avenue. It was designed by James W. Placheck, who also designed both the North and Central Berkeley Library locations. The Claremont Branch was expanded in 1976 to add room for the children's reading area, and again in 2012, with improvements that led to a Silver LEED-certification, creation of a separate Teen room, more computers and an improved layout for patrons. We are celebrating the centennial with furniture upgrades made possible with a generous grant from the Berkeley Public Library Foundation and with programs like tonight's made possible by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library.