Who made the Pence?

Who made the Pence?

The Pence Gallery has been a landmark in downtown Davis for so long that it’s easy to take it for granted. You may love going to Friday night ArtAbout openings, or attend watercolor classes in the Andresen learning Center, or buy presents at the Holiday Market every year without ever wondering about where it all came from. A lot of people may not even know the history of the iconic building. How it was built by volunteer citizens—like Bill and Nancy Roe—who loved the arts and the city in which they lived. There was no government funding, just caring people with a passion for bettering their community. The history of the Pence is a story of people giving what they could to realize a creative dream. These are the people that made the Pence. 

The tradition of giving that began in 1975 continues to this day. The doors are opened by volunteers, the staff is paid through the generous donations of the patrons, and local artists offer their work to the community. It’s still about friends and neighbors giving what they can to bring joy to our world.

As a board member, I am honored to be a part of the joyful tradition of building community through the arts. On this Big Day of Giving, I ask you to make the Pence part of your life by donating today. 

Our goals this year include: 

• Safeguarding the entry to the building by upgrading the front doors with an automatic lock feature and installing an ADA-compliant access button for $10,200. 
• Improving energy efficiency by installing blinds on the southside windows in the foyer for $2,400.
• Increasing the frequency of Art in Action Workshops from quarterly to monthly for $6,000.

Thanks for supporting the creative spirit of Davis!

Ken Kirsch