Studio 700 Center for the Arts

The clients of Studio 700 Center for the Arts are working artists. The center serves upwards of 75 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities daily and provides our clients the opportunity to advance in fine motor skills, personal interactions, following instruction, and time management, with the ultimate goal of creating art. Clients experience the fulfillment that comes from practice, delayed gratification, and dedication. Art produced includes photography, ceramics, greeting cards, letterhead for local businesses, animated music videos, paintings, various three-dimensional works, wearable art and clothing lines, short films and theatre performances. Studio 700 provides the environment for the artists to find a stronger voice in art and in life. Art is for sale to the public, providing our artists the opportunity to earn money for their work.

Our Mission:

It is our guiding belief that every individual with an intellectual or developmental disability has an intrinsic yet often unrealized value in his or her community. In representing this population that has been historically underserved, The Arc of Placer County is passionately dedicated to the support, education, and well-being of these individuals. 

A Bit of History:

Though not so named at the time, The Arc of Placer County was established in 1958 by a group of parents joining together in a resolute voice to advocate for the educational rights of their children with special needs. As a result of their advocacy, the county office of education opened its first classroom for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 1959.

The agency was incorporated in 1963 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and with an eye to the future when their children would be leaving public school, the parents opened a thrift store to raise funds for future programs and services. In 1964, enough funds were raised to open the doors of our first program, a sheltered workshop, in the basement of a church in Auburn. Even today, many of the children, now adults, of those resolute parents are still served by the agency's programs.

Our agency has gone by many names over the years, but with our recent alignment as a chapter of the largest advocacy group in the country for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, The Arc of the United States, our name also changed to The Arc of Placer County. Throughout the decades we have proudly served our clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities ensuring we significantly contribute to the quality of their lives.

A sincere Thank You for participating in our largest annual fundraiser, The Big Day of Giving 2024!