Join Us!
Join McGuffey Art Center, a collective of emerging and professional artists in visual and performing mediums, based in the heart of downtown Charlottesville.
2025 Jury Drop-off dates
Drop off: Sunday, January 5
Pick-up: Sunday, January 12
Drop off and pick up submission materials from 1-5pm in the Starnes Classroom
If you’ve never applied for membership in an organization, never submitted your work for jurying, or if you just want advice, assistance, or information about the application process, please let us know! Contact mac@mcguffeyartcenter.com.
McGuffey Art Center is a democratic cooperative of artists operating since 1975 out of the former McGuffey School in downtown Charlottesville. We lease the building from the city of Charlottesville in order to provide facilities and opportunities for visual and performing artists, both emerging and professional, and to provide open studios, exhibitions, performances, classes, tours, and outreach projects to the community at large.
We are always looking for both emerging and professional artists to apply for membership. Application is through a jurying process several times each year. Prospective members submit 4-6 artworks representative of their current body of work along with an artist statement, resume, and a fee. Applicants in the performing arts should also schedule an audition or showcase. McGuffey Art Center has two levels of membership. Any artist who joins becomes an Associate Member. Associates may be from anywhere in the world and may present their works in both solo and group shows. Artists who lease studio space become Resident Members. They must live in the local area. Resident Members carry out most of the work of the center by serving on committees or in elected offices and meeting other responsibilities.
McGuffey Art Center is actively seeking to make our building more accessible and representative of the Charlottesville area! If you would like advice, assistance, or information from current members about the application process, or need assistance with the application fee, please let us know!
Read more about the jury process and submit your application here.
Membership Categories
Margaret Embree
Renting Members
Renting memberships are offered to artists who require studio space and who are willing to be working members of the Association. Renting members, while also being studio artists, support the McGuffey Art Center community through committee work (helping hang gallery exhibitions, organizing community events, publicity, etc.).
Accepted renting artists are placed on a waiting list until appropriate space is available and must become Associate members and pay the Associate fee in the interim.
Howell Burnell
Associate Members
Associate memberships are offered to artists who do not require studio space or cannot manage the workload of a renting member but wish to participate in the McGuffey community, through participation in solo or group exhibitions, hosting classes or workshops, and participation in community events.
Elena Yu
Incubator Program Artists
This program is focused on emerging artists. Applicants should be in a place in their art-making where they have some experience, are ready to commit time, and have ideas for future projects.
The next application cycle for a residency opportunity (Jul 2024 - Jun 2025) will open in March 2024.