The Joshua Tree Art Gallery, the beloved fixture of Downtown Joshua Tree known as “JTAG,” is closing permanently. The Board of the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council, Inc, (MBCAC) which operates the non-profit art gallery, has decided to close the gallery to better focus on the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours event.
The MBCAC said that budgetary issues have made it difficult to continue both the gallery and the Art Tours, and the Board decided to focus on the Art Tours. The gallery’s June exhibit is set to be it’s last.
The MBCAC originally opened JTAG and it’s sister gallery Gallery 62 to showcase artwork from the artists of the High Desert and elsewhere. Gallery 62 closed in November 2021 due to rising rents.
A statement from the MBCAC said that an artist collective, led by Ed Keesling is considering taking over the gallery space located at 61607B 29 Palms Highway Joshua Tree, CA 92252, as an independently operated co-op.
