ARTrageous Gallery Looking for Buyer

ARTrageous Gallery in downtown Novato is closing unless it can find a new buyer by November 1.

The gallery, located at 857 Grant Ave., was opened by Karen Duarteau in 2011, the first in downtown Novato. It sold paintings, sculptures and mixed media works and hosted special events such as wine tastings and open houses where guests could see artists at work.

But nearly two years after launch, Duarteau says she is looking for someone to take over the venue.

“The hard work has been done; it’s a ready-made business,” she said. “Now the gallery needs somebody to nurture it, who will be here all the time and promote it as a venue for wine tastings and other events.”

Duarteau, who previously owned a downtown boutique, opened the gallery on a whim after watching several retailers leave Grant Avenue.

“I though the town needed some culture and took over the space,” she said. “I started it not really knowing anything about art galleries. I just got a book and went from there.”

But running the business has proved challenging, with most visitors popping in, browsing and leaving without making a purchase. Duarteau says the key to success for the gallery lies in staying open later, e-commerce and in hosting more special events at the venue, something she doesn‘t have time for.

That’s why she’s selling the gallery for $20,000, a price she calls a “bargain” and goodwill gesture toward the community.

“Novato needs something like this,“ Duarteau said, adding that more downtown shops need to stay open later and organize events to draw people downtown.

“The artists deserve their art to be sold and taken to people’s homes. It would be sad to have to close this"

Anyone interested in finding out more about the gallery should contact Duarteau at 415- 897-8444.

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