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The Hi-Desert Cultural Center’s state-of-the-art gallery in Greater Joshua Tree has formed an innovative new partnership with the renowned multi-national art gallery, ARTCO, and once again opened its doors to the public on December 11, 2021 with a new name—the Joshua Tree Gallery of Contemporary Art—and a new exhibition, EMERGENCE, as part of the highly anticipated re-opening.

Joshua Tree Gallery of Contemporary Art (JT-GOCA) and the Cultural Center’s entire leading-edge Yucca Valley Visual & Performing Arts Center that it’s a part of, had its grand opening in June 2018 but was forced to close fewer than two years later in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic mandates—where it remained without any exhibitions or programming for nearly 19 months.  While the pandemic has been financially devastating for nearly all arts organizations, including the Cultural Center, the downtime has given the Center time to further implement its intended vision for the flagship gallery—to be an avid participant in the international arts community, highlight the beauty of commonality within diversity, and represent the Greater Joshua Tree area.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with ARTCO to move forward in taking this anticipated next step to fulfill the original vision for this cutting-edge venue,” explains Jarrod Radnich, the Cultural Center’s president.  ARTCO maintains galleries in Europe and South Africa and has chosen to partner with the Cultural Center in Joshua Tree for its United States presence.

Founded in 2003 by Jutta and Joachim Melchers, ARTCO Gallery is based in Aachen, Berlin, Cape Town, and now Joshua Tree. The gallery represents a selection of international artists who have particular interest in painting and photography. Its main focus is the presentation of already established and emerging artists with an African background. The gallery participates in a number of international fairs, seeking to bring art from the continent to the widest possible audience. In addition to its programme of solo shows and group exhibitions, ARTCO Gallery regularly publishes artist monographs and exhibition catalogues.