Three Winston-Salem Arts and Cultural Groups Present “Art for the Holidays”

Event starting Friday, December 5, promotes

books, arts and crafts as unique holiday gifts

"Three Winston-Salem arts and cultural organizations have joined forces this year under the banner, “Art for the Holidays,” to promote books, arts and crafts as unique, affordable holiday gifts.  Bookmarks, Associated Artists, and Sawtooth School for Visual Art are collaborating on “Art for the Holidays” that begins Friday, December 5, at 10:00 a.m. in the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts with the launch of the 25th annual Deck the Halls arts and fine crafts sale -- a tradition for many Winston-Salem holiday shoppers.

Beginning at 4:00 p.m. and running until 8:00 p.m. on the same day, Bookmarks will offer books and book crafts by local vendors and artists. Persons attending Bookmarks “Holiday Bazaar” in Reynolds Place at the Rhodes Center may purchase signed first editions, handmade crafts including cards, handmade journals, and artwork, as well as books for persons from preschool age to grandparents.  Vendors of handmade journals, pens, cards, bookshelves, bookends, artwork surrounding books and reading, etc. are still needed for this event.  Additional information is available at www.bookmarksnc.org/event.

At 5:00 p.m., Associated Artists will host the opening reception for its “100 - The More the Merrier” exhibition in the Womble Carlyle Gallery.  This exhibit features original art works that are priced at no more than $100.   The exhibition will run through January 4, 2015.

Also featured at 5 p.m. is a special holiday treat co-sponsored by Downtown Winston Salem Partnership and The Arts Council who are providing entertainment for holiday shoppers with the inclusion of TubaChristmas.  This group of 15 local tuba enthusiasts, directed by Matt Ransom, will greet visitors to Art for the Holidays with holiday tunes between 5: 00 and 6:00 p.m.

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has assisted in coordinating the three separate events into a unique local shopping opportunity. “More and more, we are seeing arts organizations in Winston-Salem collaborate and with great success.  We are, in fact, an arts community, and this is an exciting trend – one which we are encouraging and looking for ways to facilitate,” said Jim Sparrow, President and CEO of The Arts Council. 

All events will be in the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and are free and open to the public.  The Milton Rhodes Center is located at 251 N. Spruce Street in downtown Winston-Salem.  Parking is available for a modest fee in The Arts Council parking lot directly across from the Milton Rhodes Center, on street, and in nearby parking decks.

Winston-Salem’s robust arts community accounts in large part for the recognition it continues to receive as a great place to live, work and play.  The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County enriches the lives of area residents every day. It raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural opportunities, develops social capital and aids economic development.  The Arts Council has made a total of 76 grants totaling $1,845,000 for 2015.  Organizational Support Grants, $1,615,000; Wells Fargo Arts-In-Education Grants, $100,000; Duke Energy Regional Artist Grants, $30,000; Innovative Project Grants, $100,000."

- A Press Release