Thank you for following along and supporting us this year. Take a look at all the fun things we accomplished together in 2024!
First Friday Art Crawls
This year, we received approval from Downtown Boone to bring art vending back for First Friday Art Crawls. These events are a great opportunity for artists in the area to showcase and sell their work in the heart of Downtown Boone on the first Friday of every month. While we had to take a brief break due to the hurricane, we were able to administer the rest of the year’s art crawls successfully thanks to participating artists and those that supported them.
In 2024, we welcomed over 620 students in our 100+ classes! From foundational drawing and painting, to print classes and mosaics, we were able to cover a lot of ground this year thanks to our wonderful instructors and lovely students. On top of this, we hosted over 12 community groups and non-profits at our office space consistently throughout 2024!
We have some new classes already lined up for next year, which you can view here. We hope to see you all in one of our classes in 2025!
Art Education Reach
Youth Makers Markets
Young artists in the area had the chance to show off their artistic abilities through Youth Makers Markets, an add-on to the Watauga County Farmers Market. Although they got rained out in the later part of the year from the hurricane, we made sure they continued to take part in local art markets through the First Friday Art Crawls! Thanks for all your hard work and dedication, youth and families!
Art For All Abilities
In collaboration with Watauga Opportunities, WAC held free weekly classes all year long for adults with disabilities, offering them the opportunity to engage with one another while working with their hands and creating art unique to them!
Art in the Outdoors
Art in the outdoors is a public arts initiative started by the Watauga Arts Council in _. We took steps forward this year with this project, specifically through the installation of _ and the ‘My Watauga’ cement-mosaic post seen at the Middle Fork Greenway. Thank you to Cindy Michaud and many others who have helped us in this journey to make art public and accessible for all! Want to know more about this initiative and how to get involved? Click here!
Earlier this year, WAC was granted an AARP grant, being awarded over $16,000 to beautify the Middle Fork Greenway even more through the implementation of tunnel murals. While Hurricane Helene set us back, we are more resilient and dedicated than ever to get this project going. Soon enough, everyone will be able to see the wonderful murals in the tunnels under Tweetsie railroad! Stay tuned for more to come!
WAC Awarded an AARP Grant
Hurricane Relief Efforts
In late September, Western NC and Tennessee were amongst the worst hit by the horrendous Hurricane Helene. In an effort to recoup losses faced by artists in the wake of the storm, WAC started their own fund, named Hope After Helene. This fund has been raising money for artists who have lost income opportunities during the busiest months of the year, along with reimbursing artists’ studio space, supplies, and more lost in the storm’s flooding. Want to learn more or donate? Click here!
Additionally, in response to Hurricane Helene, WAC started the Cards of Hope project. Cards of Hope invited community members to create, design, draw, or write on cards to be sent either to those who were impacted by the storm or to those who helped restore the town after it was hit. Thank you to all who participated!
In late November, WAC hosted the 2nd Chance sale at our office building! This sale, originally started by Pat Birdsong, provided local artists the opportunity to share and sell their work that may have some imperfections. The sale was a huge success, and we cannot thank both the buyers and the artists enough for their support as we navigated this new experience for us.
2nd Chance Sale
Hope Squared Art Fundraiser
Just a bit ago, WAC hosted the Hope Squared Art Fundraiser, an art sale that challenged participating artists to create works within specific parameters: either 6x6 or 12x12. Proceeds not only directly supported the artists, but also went towards our Hope After Helene fund. Without your help, we would truly not be able to support our local artists the way we have been able to over the past few months. Thank you!
WAC is a designated subgranter for Watauga and neighboring counties. Under the North Carolina Arts Council, we allocated over $33k this year to arts organizations and individual artists. With this money, the creative side of our town will continue to flourish and thrive as these people and agencies begin working on their arts and culture initiatives. Keep up the good work, y’all!
Grant Allotments
Painted Memories Launch
Watauga and Ashe County Arts Councils have paired with the High Country Watermedia Society to start the Painted Memories initiative. This project asks participating artists to create small, free paintings of houses which have been lost or damaged in the storm. Those who have experienced these losses will be able to keep their paintings free of charge, in an effort to revive the warm embrace these houses once brought prior to hurricane Helene. Are you an artist wanting to get involved? Click here. Want to submit your house for a painting? Click the button below!
Finally, we’ve had our end of season showcase on display which is currently being exhibited at the Watauga Arts Council until early January. This showcase is full of work from artists in local groups and guilds. Make sure to stop by and see it before it’s too late!
End of Season Showcase
You can view more statistics about our work this past year in our End of Year Letter. Your support keeps our operations running. THANK YOU!
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