Thanks to funding from the North Carolina Arts Council, administered locally through the Chatham County Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program, and with matching funds provided by the Chatham Artists Guild, the Guild presented an Arts Skills Development Workshop Series that provided educational opportunities for artists and the community over a five-month period.
The grant made it possible to offer 10 unique, free workshops led by Chatham Artists Guild members, covering a wide range of artistic and professional development topics. Participants explored gelatin printing, watercolor florals, beginning weaving, ceramic glazing, soft pastels, and photographing 3-D artwork, while also gaining valuable
business skills through workshops on working by commission, getting into galleries, and teaching art as a small business.
The series reached 98 participants, including high school students, emerging artists, experienced artists, educators, and community members from across Chatham County. By offering these workshops at no cost, the Guild provided high-quality learning experiences that encouraged creativity, professional growth, and meaningful connections among artists.
The Chatham Artists Guild extends its sincere appreciation to the workshop instructors—Gretchen Kapity, Susan Baker Cartledge, Rachel Brown, Darcy Szeremi, Kristin Bergsten, Lee Kazanas, Amy and Greg Wandless, Jody Nash, and Kathy Flood—for sharing their knowledge and experience throughout the series. A special thank you to Cally Curtis and Anna Julian for organizing the workshop series and helping make these educational opportunities a success.
We gratefully acknowledge the North Carolina Arts Council and the Chatham County Arts Council for their support of this program. Together with the Chatham Artists Guild’s matching funds, this partnership made it possible to provide free educational opportunities that continue to strengthen the arts community in Chatham County.
