Support Us
McGuffey Art Center is one of the oldest member-run art centers in the country. MAC is over 100 small businesses operating under one umbrella, practicing our arts and sharing our creative spirit. More than forty of us rent studios in the historic McGuffey School, and many more of us contribute part-time to the association from Charlottesville, Central Virginia, and beyond. We show in McGuffey’s galleries and studios, host workshops, teach classes, give free tours, host summer art camps, and carry out the work of our association through elected offices, committees, and volunteer efforts.
While more than 96% of our budget is paid for by our members, we do ask donations and contributions from the community for particular projects and needs. Would you consider helping out? $10, $20, $50 really makes a difference in what we can offer to the community. And if you can give more, there’s scarcely an arts organization where your gifts go farther and do more!
Here are four areas where you can make an impact!
MAC’s Incubator Studio program is a way to give emerging artists a place to grow in their studio practice. The members of the studio are chosen through an application process and have use of the space for one year during which they receive support, encouragement, advice, and inspiration from the membership at McGuffey Art Center. $344 supports the reduced rent for these wonderful creative souls for 12 months!
McGuffey Art Center has a history as a venue for various events—weddings, parties, meetings. These events have the potential to increase our audience by introducing MAC and its artists to people who might not otherwise make it through our doors. The revenue earned from these rental opportunities supplies funding for both daily operations and long-term initiatives.
A refrigerator could go a long way in making McGuffey a more practical choice for such events, in addition to being handy for chilling First Friday offerings. Please consider a donation to help us put this very useful amenity in place. $800.
Are you taking classes, workshops, or seminars with McGuffey artists? Maybe you have kids in one of our camps? Our Student Tip Jar gives former and current students a chance to donate to our programs and facilities to maintain and improve our classroom, bathrooms, grounds, and programs, as well as supporting publicity so that more people can hear about what we do.
Beginning in the fall of 2020 MAC commissioned new murals for our North Wall and Red Shed. These projects encourage a variety of unique perspectives by showcasing the work of different artists each year. Won’t you support a future mural? $425 for materials and labor!