Art initiative takes up residence at UNCW

A Wilmington arts tradition will live on at UNCW.

At a news conference Thursday, UNCW Chancellor Gary Miller said that the university will provide a new permanent home for Art for the Masses (AFTM), a yearly exhibition that enables local artists to showcase their work directly to area art lovers.

AFTM 2012, the tenth anniversary show, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 in the Burney and Warwick Centers on the UNCW campus. It will feature original fine art priced at $250 or less, with UNCW student art also available for purchase. AFTM is free and open to the public. Donations will help fund public art projects at UNCW.

“UNCW values the creativity and vibrancy that the cultural arts bring to our campus and this community,” said Miller. “Creating a permanent home for Art for the Masses offers our university another opportunity to collaborate with and support our regional arts community.”

AFTM was previously organized by Creative Wilmington, a nonprofit organization that is no longer in operation.
 
In its new partnership with UNCW, AFTM will provide direct support for public art projects through the Department of Art and Art History. Artists exhibiting at AFTM will retain 100 percent of the proceeds from their sales, as they have in past years.
 
“I look forward to seeing the creative connections this new partnership will inspire,” said Miller. “I hope Art for the Masses will be a magnet for anyone who appreciates art to visit our campus, learn more about our art programs, and support the cultural arts throughout our community.”

Local artists who wish to participate in the 2012 show may register starting in July. More information and registration access can be found at www.uncw.edu/artforthemasses or email artforthemasses@uncw.edu. Artists’ fees will be used to fund the event the following year.

According to organizers, all forms of visual art are welcome at the show, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, fabric art and jewelry.