It’s Giving Tuesday. Here’s What the Arts can Give to You.
Today is “Giving Tuesday.” We’re not sure how November deserves the plethora of specially named days related to commerce. There’s “Shop Small Saturday,” “Cyber Monday,” and the unfortunate sounding, “Black Friday.” We appreciate you if you spent any of these days with the Fine Arts Center.
It’s at this point that we should be offering a heartfelt plea for your gift, and we do appreciate those of you who give to the Fine Arts Center. Donations and memberships have kept us open during one of the most difficult times in modern global history. So, if you want to reach out and donate, we truly appreciate you. But we wanted to take this opportunity to share how what you give to us we give back through the arts.
Because people have given to the Fine Arts Center during the past year, the Center has been able to give back by:
Providing more than 2,000 free art kits to children since October 2020. We provide these free kits on the Second Saturday of each month for two different age groups. IF you or your family would like to receive art kits, please sign up on our website.
Offering free art classes for children this summer even though it took some time before we could gather together in person, and we had to limit class sizes. They’re on hold for a while, but we’re looking forward to offering more free art classes for children in the new year.
Premiering low-cost, and some free, adult classes online beginning in October 2020. From photography, to watercolors, and even Zendoodling, we had dozens of adults join us in our online—and later—socially distanced classes in the Center.
Turning all of historic downtown Pulaski into a free outdoor gallery for Youth Art Month this past March. Students from schools across the New River Valley had their work exhibited in the windows of local businesses for a safe art experience that also included a fun QR code-based scavenger hunt of fun art facts.
Offering two free concerts this summer. Our first concert in May with “The Groove Houndz” happened to coincide with a double digit drop in temperature, yet a few stalwart fans still attended. That wasn’t the case with our summer concert in Jackson Park with The Reflections Band in which more than 200 people enjoyed the music along with food from local food trucks and the option of age-appropriate beverages from Ironheart Winery.
Relaunching the free First Friday Listening Room concert series in September that will continue through May. Our November concert moved across Main Street to Max on Main, historic downtown Pulaski’s newest food—and now—music venue.
We have also reopened the Edna B. Love Gallery with a series of exhibits by local artists, beginning with highlights from our Permanent Collection in May to our current show featuring the work of 10 local wood artists. “From the Silence of Wood” includes statuary, wall art, furniture, turned bowls, and a variety of pens, utensils, and more. Yes, you can stop in and find some great gifts, but you can also simply enjoy the wide range of art as a gift for your senses.
We’d like to thank those of you who give to the Fine Arts Center, yes financially, but also by visiting our exhibits, taking our classes, and enjoying our programs. Today is Giving Tuesday, and we are glad to give those opportunities to you.
