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The Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore is home to about 20 working artists as well as classes, workshops and events. (Photo by Jude Strzemp) 
Bothwell artist Elinor Cheung constructs a multimedia piece of artwork. (Photo by Jude Strzemp) 
Bothwell instructor Cameron Songey reviews students’ artwork as part of a Friday drawing class. (Photo by Jude Strzemp) 
Artists at the Bothwell attested to the value of having a designated workspace for creating art. Seen here is Bothwell instructor and artist John Iacono before his artwork. (Photo by Jude Strzemp) 
Artwork can be seen hung throughout the Bothwell. Seen here are pieces by artist Thomas See. (Photo by Jude Strzemp)
Nestled in a Livermore neighborhood is the beloved locus of an artist community.
The 1940s-era building dubbed the Bothwell Arts Center is home to rented studios, classrooms and performing space.
As the facility nears the end of its usable life, the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District — which owns the Bothwell property blocks outside downtown — has not yet determined the building’s future.
Nevertheless, the status quo carries on by leasing the facility to the nonprofit Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, better known as Livermore Valley Arts, which also manages programming at the city’s Bankhead Theater.
“This place is important for the community. I can’t stress that enough,” Bothwell art instructor John Iacono told the Pleasanton Weekly. “This is our lifeblood for art.”
Within the Bothwell’s east end is a large room with high ceilings and a corner stage, known for hosting productions by Livermore-based community theater group Encore Players. Other days, the room homes comedy workshops, tai-chi, celebrations of life and Livermore Valley Opera rehearsals, LVA visual arts and education manager Anne Giancola said during an exclusive tour with the Weekly.
Heading west, a yellow room divided by studios regularly welcomes Sycamore Strings Academy, Giancola explained.
There are about 20 working artists at the Bothwell, she said.
A neighboring room with a large table often serves as the site of jewelry workshops, classes and art camps.
Capping the west end is another high-ceilinged room bordered with artist studios.
“To have the community of artists here is so important,” Giancola said. “They collaborate, and chat and work off of each other.”
Among the artists renting space at the Bothwell is Dublin resident Tuan Karsevar.
Standing before a canvas at the Bothwell on a Friday evening, he pulled yellow pigments with a painting knife.
Preferring to work outside of his home, Karsevar said being at the Bothwell is artistic fuel.
“You can talk, get feedback,” Karsevar said of painting at the Bothwell. “Everybody inspires each other here.”
Just paces away in a studio room, artist Sheena Stewart was painting details on an accessory resembling a pink hibiscus.
Stewart has been in the business of sculpting whimsical accessories for about 13 years. Of those years, Stewart has worked for nearly a decade out of a Bothwell studio.
Previously running the business at home, Stewart said the Bothwell is a much more conducive space to work.
“When it was in my room, it was kind of claustrophobic. I felt a little held back and I was alone.” Stewart said.
“Being able to have this space, I was able to make more pieces that I wanted to make, able to talk with other artists — just have that creative inspiration — and it made me feel more disciplined,” Stewart added. “It feels like a home to me.”
“The rent is very doable and possible for us artists, which I really appreciate,” Stewart said. “The fact that it’s in my hometown is awesome.”
Iacono has also found that having a workspace outside of his residence has been very valuable.
It’s nearly impossible for him to take work home.
“I’m painting in yards,” he explained. “I can’t go roll this out and do this in my space at my house because my house is my sacred space.”
Artists rent their studios at a cost of $160-$600 monthly, which accounts for the Bothwell’s revenue in addition to classes and camps.
But by itself, the Bothwell does not take in enough revenue to self-sustain, LVA CEO Chris Carter said.
“We run things on very thin margins,” he explained.
Operating the facility is not cheap, Carter acknowledged. The arts organization must pay for Bothwell staff, teachers, insurance and electricity.
Otherwise, renting the Bothwell from LARPD costs just over $1,400 monthly.
There are no comparable spaces in line with the Bothwell’s rent, according to Carter.
Located on 8th Street, the building was constructed in 1947 and originally dubbed the Bothwell Sr. Recreation Center in honor of its construction supervisor Samuel Bothwell, according to the LARPD website. Bothwell was also instrumental in establishing the surrounding Bothwell Park & Playground.
While the building is structurally sound, its roof is nearing the end of its lifespan and several older modular HVAC units will likely need replacement, LARPD parks and facilities manager Fred Haldeman said.
LARPD also sees the occasional plumbing and electrical issues typical of older facilities, according to Haldeman.
“The Bothwell building has been remodeled several times, but it is nearing the later stages of its useful life,” he said.
Based on preliminary estimates, a full upgrade could cost several million dollars depending on the scope of improvements required, LARPD officials said.
The board has not made any decisions regarding the future of the Bothwell, LARPD Board Director David Furst told the Weekly in a recent interview.
“Regarding the future of the facility and some of its current challenges, many of those topics will be discussed during our upcoming Master Plan process,” LARPD Board of Directors Chair Philip Pierpont said.
The district’s Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan Update is on track to be completed this fall, General Manager Mat Fuzie said. The Bothwell Arts Center and adjacent parkland is expected to be featured heavily in the document.
Since about 2021, the lease has been a month-to-month agreement with LVA, according to Fuzie.
“We have no plans to kick anybody out,” Fuzie said. “It’s kind of a mutually beneficial agreement. They have the freedom to find something that works for them better, but they also have the freedom to stay if they can’t.”
Regardless of the structure’s age, students gathered Friday evening in the Bothwell’s west wing for a drawing class led by instructor Cameron Songey.
The group was surveying a thermal carafe to practice drawing multiple planes.
“He has really helped me improve my skills,” said drawing student and Livermore resident Cathy Spencer.
Classmate Simone Bley agreed that the course has been helpful.
“It’s relaxing and rewarding, and I can see the improvements already,” she explained.
A third student, Deepti Rajshekar of Pleasanton, said she found more than just art at the Bothwell.
“I enrolled in the drawing class at Bothwell because it was the only option that worked for me,” Rajshekar told the Weekly in an email interview. “I kept coming back because of the teacher and the Bothwell art community.”
