Chico Art Center Main Entrance, behind Empire Coffee

Chico Art Center is a community-based non-profit organization that seeks to promote visual art in Chico. They were responsible for Chico Open Board Art in downtown, although this program no longer exists. The Chico Art Center holds the annual event Artoberfest every October. In addition, they offer both adult and youth art classes year round.

The Chico Art Center is located at the Amtrak Station adjacent to Empire Coffee in the historic Southern Pacific Depot building. When it opened in 1955, the art center was located on Salem Street. It moved around a bit over the years before settling in its current location in 1988.