In 1998, Artist Keith Wicks moved to Sonoma with his family to devote more time to painting. After discovering that his then 7-year old daughter received art education only once a month in her public school, Wicks was motivated to create Sonoma Plein Air as a way to help raise money for art in the public schools.

Keith Wicks and a dedicated group of Sonoma Valley residents founded the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation in 2002, a non-profit, all volunteer organization. The mission of the Foundation is to promote plein air (outdoor) painting. And most importantly, to give young people the opportunity to experience art by bringing art education programs back to the children of Sonoma Valley, California.

The week-long Sonoma Plein Air is an annual event sponsored by the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has granted hundreds of thousands of dollars to support art education programs to the following:

· Five Sonoma Valley elementary schools

· Two Sonoma Valley middle schools

· The Sonoma Community Center's youth scholarship programs, and their pilot program for high school students

· The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art "Art Rewards the Student" exhibition featuring art from fourth and fifth graders, curated by student interns from Sonoma Valley High School and Hanna Boys Center.

· The Arts Guild of Sonoma for their pilot program for K-5 students

The Sonoma Plein Air Festival has raised over $545,000 for these causes.

The driving force of the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is the volunteers who donate countless hours to the worthy cause of art education in Sonoma Valley.

The other key to the Foundation’s success and an important factor in stimulating the interest and excitement in this event has been the individual Patrons and business Sponsors of Sonoma Plein Air. The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation deeply appreciates their generosity and support. Please see our Sponsorship page for opportunities to help.

For information on the Sonoma Plein Air event, please go to the Events page.



19201 Sonoma Highway
No. 321
Sonoma, CA 95476

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