A Little History About How SAM Began
by Lauri Sturdivant
SAM has been asking our patrons, visitors and artists over the past two years for donations to the Building Fund. Thanks to you we are very close to reaching our goal of $200,000. I want to tell you a little bit about how SAM came to be the ART in the heART of Dunsmuir. As of 4/24/25 4:30 we have raised almost $176,000! Only $24K more!
We were given this opportunity by Peter Arth who purchased the building in 2012. Peter asked if I wanted to open a gallery in that location. We had discussed this in the past when I was the executive director of the Siskiyou Arts Council. Peter wanted to see his new hometown of Dunsmuir offer arts and culture opportunities on par with those available in cities. Through his generous funding and the energy of our team the Siskiyou Arts Museum was born.
I came to SAM with a lot of experience in non-profit arts administration, and Peter brought along friends with lots of energy, creativity and love for Dunsmuir. The SAM Team pulled up our sleeves and went to work. We cleaned, painted, and managed a team of local carpenters, electricians and floor experts to create the beautiful space you see today.
We invited a couple of community members to join SAM’s founding Board of Directors and then went to work on obtaining the 501(C)3 with all the policies and procedures needed (both Federal and State) to establish SAM as a nonprofit public benefit corporation. The purpose statement in Article 10 in the Articles of Incorporation is what gives us the tax-deductible status. *Below, I’ve added Article10 for the P&P nerds, like me.
In 2013, SAM grew when Barbara Cross, who was also sitting on the Dunsmuir Planning Committee, brought her business savvy and love of Dunsmuir to the Board of Directors. Barbara was a true working board member taking on fundraising projects and heading up the Membership Committee.
Through the efforts of many volunteers putting in over 1,649 hours a year, SAM is a success story! On 2nd Saturdays we come together to celebrate with the artists, make new friends and catch up with old friends. SAM is a great place to buy gifts for ourselves and others. We can feel good about supporting artists who are our friends and neighbors.
The Siskiyou Arts Museum was a dream that came true. With money, sweat equity and love an amazing space has become a vital home for the arts in our corner of the world. We all have played our part by bringing our talents and gifts. Let’s finish this fundraising push to Buy the Building! Keep the ARTS Alive!
