Our Mission ...

Provide Opportunities in the Realm of Art for Personal Growth of the Individual and the Economic Growth of our Community

• Enhance and Preserve the Quality and Accessibility of the Arts
• To Honor Our Rich Heritage of Mountain Culture
• Promoting Contemporary Multi-Cultural Arts 
• Catalyst for Economic Development in the Community

Board Members

Ron Zadroga – President

Marilyn Williamson – Secretary 

Tom Chambers
Joyce Dumas
Jode Hanson
Jack Morton
Ann Rand
Robert Renneke
Patsy Washofsky
Alyce Wirtz
Alan Young
Tom Zarle
Sarah Verner, Executive Director - (Ex-Officio)

Board Committees

Festivals

Ron Zadroga, Co-Chair

Nancy Goodson, Co-Chair

Programming

Marilyn Williamson, Chair

Alan Young

Tom Zarle

Facilities

Tom Chambers, Chair

Membership/Volunteers/Hospitality

Ann Rand, Chair

Joyce Dumas

Fundraising

Sarah Verner, Chair

Robert Renneke

Marketing

Sarah Verner, Chair

Patsy Washofsky

Finance

Nancy Goodson, Chair

Meetings

Board Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each Month at 4:00 p.m. at The Art Center

Annual Membership Meeting is held the last Saturday of each January at 4:00 p.m. at The Art Center

The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association (The Art Center) is beginning its 31st year as a 501c3 nonprofit Arts Council for the mountains of North Georgia, east Tennessee, and western North Carolina. During the last 30 years, our mission has been to provide opportunities in the realm of art for personal growth of the individual and the economic growth of our community.  Over the years, our festivals have become tourist engines for our county and the City of Blue Ridge. The funds raised by these festivals are pivotal to the fiscal viability of The Art Center and bring in needed tax dollars to our city and county governments. Local businesses also benefit from the many visitors who attend these festivals. Our programs to support and grow an artist community have borne fruit with the exciting growth of the Southern Appalachian Artist Guild (SAAG) and the Blue Ridge Mountain Photographers (BRMP). The SAAG National Juried Exhibit has brought national attention to our artists, our town and our organization.

The vision of The Art Center is to act as an economic stimulus to put Blue Ridge, GA on the map as one of the Top Art Towns in the Nation. Our efforts have exacted results that benefit the entire community. Our estimated audience each year is 30,000+. The Art Center depends on its membership to keep it strong and its programs growing. We have tripled membership in three years and have a goal of reaching 1,000 members by 2011. Our membership is a solid, growing team of inspired individuals, who are interested in the creative spirit of our artists and our art enthusiasts. We need you to join us at whatever level of membership you can afford. We require membership dues to keep us healthy fiscally and we need membership strength to help us survive rough economic times.
 
If you are already a member, recruit for us. If you are not a member, please join this dynamic, creative group of individuals. If all you want to do is just walk through these beautiful galleries and absorb all the art on the wall, your membership will enable us to continue our art mission.  Our artist members build on our art inventory and advise on our cultural events. Our business members partner with us to showcase a unique community. Our patrons, friends and sponsors believe in our mission and provide the “paint” to complete our “canvas”.  Art and Culture are key components of a community. It sets us apart. The mists on our mountains hide a heart of art and culture that has been a part of this community for generations. Our organization protects and promotes that history. Help us continue for another 30 successful years. Be a partner in your art community.