HOLMES BEACH – The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island held its grand re-opening event on Oct. 8 at their gallery, located at 5414 Marina Drive. Some of the Guild’s more than 150 member artists were on hand to celebrate the works on display and the organization.
Member artists are selling their works at the gallery. The paintings are available for $60 each and are displayed prominently in the front window.
“If it’s watercolor, they mount it to the board, but if it’s acrylic or oil they paint directly on the board,” said Sharon Tarras, president of the Artists’ Guild. “Every dollar we get for these 10×10 works goes directly to our fund. We use that to help the community. We have kids that take field trips, we donate art supplies to schools in Manatee County and a lot more. That funding comes from sales like this.”
Additional funding comes from other sales of members’ art. A percentage from each sale goes to help with the cost of running the Guild, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
The Guild’s all-volunteer membership (about 150 artists and supporters of the arts) arranges exhibits, shows, online classes and other means to further local art in the community. The art gallery, the Guild’s largest program, has 50-plus displaying artists and also features works by high school students in Manatee County. Since 1989, these artists collectively show, sell and run the nonprofit gallery and serve as ambassadors for art in the community.
The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Hand sanitizer is provided and the gallery requires all non-vaccinated visitors to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.
