The Artisans, who manage the Artisan Gallery and the non-profit organization Stepping Up For Arts, is facing two major challenges in 2018. First, our Gallery is losing its rental space as of October 2018, where more than 70 local artists display and sell their fine art. Losing this space negatively impacts the individual revenues of our local artists, minimizes our presence in the community and reduces our ability to support both in human and financial resources our non-profit Stepping Up For Arts. 

Meeting the art needs of our county teachers and students is our second challenge. We have recently become aware that the county teachers receive about $1.00 per student for art supplies each year. Stepping Up For Arts, our non-profit, has consistently provided financial resources to those teachers and students, having contributed more than $30,000 to those endeavors. Now we are faced with having to increase our revenues to support these needs. With the potential disappearance of the Gallery, due to lack of space, we risk losing the help they have given us.

In the past, our overhead had been reduced due to assistance from kindly and generous folks like yourself. Now the process of moving and renting new space presents short term financial challenges that we hope you can help us overcome. Thank you in advance for your generous help. And thanks to everyone who has supported the Artisans Gallery for the last 8 years!

https://www.gofundme.com/the-artisans?teamInvite=gszkBHcRY3fDsm5odOkWq2VpValqp5KjtJ3vqM1v0MgZ5dgAGvA5Ftf0TyjLGzT4

Title:     Shiver Me Timbers …The Pirate Invasion
Date:    Sunday, October 21, 2018   2:00 – 4:00 PM, Doors Open at 1:30
Location:    St. James Community Center, 4136 Southport-Supply Road SE, Southport

Speakers:

• Lori Sanderlin, Southport Maritime Museum Manager, Stede Bonnet, “The Gentleman Pirate”

• Mark Wilde-Ramsing, author of Blackbeard’s Sunken Treasure – The 300 Year Voyage of Queen Anne’s Revenge

Tickets:    $10 each/ 2 for $15. Tickets available at the door; The Artisans of St. James Gallery located at the marina in St. James Plantation; Ricky Evans Gallery in Southport; or, contact Tanya Nickson at 703-615-6588 or email shivermetimbers402@gmail.com
   
Artifacts and props of the Age of Sail representing the Golden Age of Piracy will be displayed as well as drawings for chances to select your prize from the pirate’s chest, photo opportunities, pirate artisans and, of course, pirate snacks. Costumes encouraged - prizes awarded for best pirate costumes!