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2023 IMPACT REPORTTo support local artists, writers, and musicians and to create a thriving artscommunity by providing opportunities to experience art through a localartist market as well as gallery shows, classes, workshops, and specialevents.To create a transformational art community that promotes “Art for All” bydelivering the aesthetic and healing benefits of the arts.OurVisionOurMissionMONROE WALTONCENTER FOR THE ARTS205 S. Broad StreetMonroe, GA 30655Tel (770) 207-8937www.monroewaltonarts.org

2023 Impact ReportSales/Show Income33%Classes25%Public Support21%Grants15%Membership, Other6%From the directorAt MWCA we have tried hard in recentyears to achieve our mission of creatinga thriving arts community here in WaltonCounty. We all feel the day-to-daychallenges of this endeavor, andmeasuring "success" can be difficult. So,a recent development has provided aclue that we're making headway. InMarch 2023, we hosted a group fromThomson-McDuffie County nearAugusta. A representative for the UGAArchway Partnership suggested thegroup visit MWCA to see an example ofa successful art community model.Board members spent a morning withthe group sharing ideas that haveworked for us. Since then, we've beenapproached by other arts organizationsin surrounding areas who've visited tolearn more about out model. We arethrilled to share, as we'd all love to seethriving arts communities not just here inWalton County but throughout Georgia.We are hopeful this is a sign that we--with your support--are accomplishinggood things!Revenue SourcesHope ReeseVolunteers help hang the Regional Show (top); volunteersbeing honored at our Gratitude Party (above left); instructorJennifer Dominy painting the front doors3,600 volunteer hourswere served by MWCAmembers, Boardmembers, and others inour community

2023 Impact ReportArt at The RoeUpgrades to the groundsAngela and JoeD’Ambrosio painted ournew, starry nightsidewalks (top); our newsign (above right); treecarving by ChrisCruikshank (above left)MWCA: SharingIn the spring, representatives from theCity of Monroe and MWCA attended aworkshop on public art in Thomasville,Georgia. Upon completion of theworkshop, grant funds were madeavailable for a project of our choice, andthe team decided to tackle the sculpturegarden adjacent to the art center. Asurvey was conducted and gardenelements selected with the public’spreferences in mind. Tables, lightingfeatures, newly painted sidewalks, andinteractive features have provided amuch-needed facelift. In addition, theremoval of a diseased tree in front of thecenter provided a great opportunity fora tree carving. And lastly, updates to ourfront sign were implemented thanks to aredesign by Carlee Wooddell of CarleeW Designs.In November, MWCA teamed upwith The Roe for a night of art andhors d’oeuvres. The back room atThe Roe made a lovely backdropfor a curated exhibition and sale ofart by our talented MWCAinstructors. A small selection ofpottery, painting, fiber art, andphotography were the stars of thenight, and many of the artists wereon hand to mingle with guests andanswer questions about their work.Great food by The Roe pulled theevening together nicely. 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000Shop Revenue

2023 Impact ReportTransformationsLots of Guild eventsIn 2023, our Guild program expandedto include some great events.including a plein air painting classtaught by Andrea Kindl, ademonstration of our new photo lightbox, a class on the science of paint, ahow-to event on framing andprepping your art for showing, a fieldtrip to the Lyndon House ArtMuseum, and a presentation of tips,tools and techniques for successfullydisplaying art in our holiday ArtistsMarket. We closed the year out withour annual Christmas Parade potluckcomplete with a delicious cake tocelebrate MWCA’s 30th birthday!A dedicated group of volunteers made ittheir mission to improve the overall MWCAexperience. You may have noticed artist biocards and new seasonal decorationsthroughout the shop area, the table at theentrance featuring seasonal art items, andthe lovely door paintings. In November, thegroup spent hours transforming the MWCAbuilding into a twinkling gingerbreadhouse. The wooden soldiers alone tookabout ten hours to make! Thetransformation was a hit with thecommunity. Artist NancyJeanetteLong teaches aworkshop on art prepand framing (top) ;photographer GinaBramble demoing ournew light box (middle);Guild visit to theLyndon HouseMuseum (bottom)MWCA for theholidays (above);our decoratingcommittee: artistsDonna Campo,Kamden Ecker, andRebecca Braswell(right)

The Gallery was Busy!Art in the NeighborhoodOur gallery space was maxed out in 2023.In the winter we held our annual MembersShow featuring 150+ pieces from adult andyouth artists. The spring brought theelementary, middle, and high school artshows, displaying student artwork fromaround the county. For each school showwe held a reception, which was wellattended by parents, siblings, and otherrelatives--a great way to draw thecommunity in to appreciate a variety of artmediums. Our Tiny Art Show--with a newFirst Dibs twist--was held in the summer,followed by a popular pottery and digitalart showcase. Lastly, our fall RegionalShow was our strongest ever, with more 60talented artists entering 124 pieces.Part of our mission is to ensure thatart activities don't just happen withinour walls. Holding our annual gardenand holiday tours is a muchanticipated way we spread the artlove. Area gardens and plein air artare a great mix in our spring gardentour, and home decor is the focus forour December tour of homes. Inaddition, we support community-wide events such as Unicorn Day,Dino Day, Monroe Blooms, FallFestival, and Candelight Shoppingwith both free and paid activities forall ages. The Pallazzo home(top); the O’Kelleygarden (right); artistBabs Kall at theD’Ambriosio garden(left)2023 Regional Show winners(left); donated pieces for ourFirst Dibs Tiny Art Event (right)2019 2020 2021 2022 2023050100150200250Show Participation2023 Impact Report

2023 Impact ReportArt as Self CareArt for HealingArtist and instructor Donna Coffman feelsstrongly that art can provide soul care forpeople dealing with tough times--illness,loss, and other traumatic life events.Thanks to grant funds from Walton EMC'sRoundUp program, in 2023 Donna wasable to launch her 16-week Artistic ShelterCourse. The course has filled each time ithas been offered, meeting a strong needin the community.“My mind was redirected by art in thisclass as well as through sharing withothers. It was strength gathered in oneroom by a group of hearts in the sameplace.”~Artistic Shelter ParticipantMWCA: Caring Ongoing grant funding has beencrucial to the success of our healing artsprogramming. In 2023, we continued tooffer art classes to special needsstudents at Monroe Area and WalnutGrove High Schools, and we offeredpottery classes for visually impairedadults. In addition, we once againdistributed over 1000 of our ArtMD kitsin the community. Recently, one of ourmembers was so pleased that heryoung granddaughter was offered oneof the kits while in the Piedmont Waltonemergency room with another familymember. With versions of kits for bothchildren and adults, the ArtMD programspreads a little art therapy to many ofour neighbors in need. Pottery class for the visuallyimpaired (top); a recipient of ourArtMD kits at Piedmont WaltonHospital (bottom)Volunteers prepare ArtMD kits fordistribution in the community (above left);our teen/adult and child kits (above right)

2023 Impact ReportFor Readers and WritersArt for Kids 2023 saw an expansion of our offeringsfor writers. Classes and workshops weretaught by various authors and instructorson topics as diverse as screenwriting,memoir writing, creative writing,podcasting, and the business and craft ofwriting. The Walton Writers Zoom groupcontinued to meet twice a month, and NotYour Mama’s Book Club and the Sisters inCrime writing group both met monthly. Inaddition, MWCA hosted a variety of booklaunches for local authors. 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023050010001500200025003000Pottery and Pizza for Kids, started thisyear by Rebecca Braswell, has been apopular addition to our class lineup. Weheld five summer camps with a focus oneither mixed media or pottery andserved 78 local students.Book signings for local authors BobbyNash (left) and Jackie Rod (right)“I wanted to say how thankful I am for thepottery summer camp. My daughter reallyenjoyed learning all about the techniques ofpottery. We are so impressed with herartwork. I wanted to say thank you for the hardwork and supplies provided by the teachers. Ajob well done!” Class ParticipationMWCA: TeachingWriting class withCarole Townsend(above) andpodcastingworkshop with KathyStagner Nichols(right)

2023 Impact ReportOur talented InstructorsSomething for Everyone We are blessed to have so manytalented instructors teaching andleading workshops. Donna Coffmanchairs the Education Committee andleads a number of classes for kids andadults. Longtime potter and potteryinstructor, Rebecca Braswell, hasheaded up our pottery department for7 years. Kamden Ecker teaches oilpainting, drawing, and watercolorclasses as well as crochet. Formernurse Rebecca McCartt leads many ofour special needs classes, and artistsNancyJeanette Long and JenniferDominy teach painting. These are justa few of our many dedicatedinstructors, all of whom generouslygive their time to teach andencourage others. Beyond teachingclasses, our instructors volunteermany additional hours at the artcenter, ensuring a great experiencefor students and visitors and greatlycontributing to our success. In a typical month, the MWCA calendar holds 60-70 classes for all ages in avariety of mediums such as drawing, oiland acrylic painting, pottery, journaling,and the craft of writing. In 2023, a numberof new classes were formed includingintroduction to metal casting, crocheting,embroidery, kids drawing, watercolor,and photography. In addition, each month at our mini-art-festival Saturday Soirees we featureshort, popup classes in a variety of crafts,often with a seasonal bent. Our thirdSaturday Old Time Music jamboree andguitar lessons by Zach Coffman roundout our offerings in a wide variety of thearts.Pottery instructor Rebecca Braswell (top left);painting & drawing instructor Kamden Ecker (topright); special needs instructor Rebecca McCartt(bottom left); painting and workshop instructorJennifer Dominy (bottom right)Musicians ZachCoffman,Jimmy Herring,and Chris Goga(above); rakufiring in theparking lot(right)