To enhance the quality of life within the community by elevating the stature of visual art and educating the public to its significance.
Upstate Visual Arts began officially in 1991, when a small group of area business and cultural leaders resolved to serve both area artists and the community by celebrating the vast talent of local artists. Upstate Visual Arts now exists as a thriving non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, almost 500 members strong.
Upstate Visual Arts promotes its artists through excellent exhibitions such as West Greenville Art Festival, the Annual Members Show, Trading Faces, 3-D Show and Juried Exhibitions throughout the year. Along with these exhibitions, Upstate Visual Arts artists may also participate in smaller rotating exhibits such as the exhibits in the Upstate Visual Arts Gallery, Green Valley Country Club and Art in the Market (Exhibit at Whole Foods Market on Woodruff Road).
To meet the educational needs of members and non-members of all ages, Upstate Visual Arts is working towards offering Emerging Artist Workshops and Peer Critiques during 2009. Look for details soon!
Besides its usual exhibitions and educational programs, Upstate Visual Arts teams up each year with Greenville Sister Cities International for a photography exchange between Greenville and one of its Sister Cities. Kortrijk, Belgium was the first in 2007, and we exchanged with Tainjin, China in 2008. This photography exchange, called Trading Faces is open to all Greenville area photographers. Shows are shown simultaneously in both cities.
Upstate Visual Arts is proud to have an exhibition facility with studio space for practicing artists. This facility enables the public to enjoy visual arts educational activities and exhibitions on a regular basis. Please come visit us and see the gallery and artists at work! The Gallery and Studios is located at 4 Smith Street, downtown Greenville.
Anyone interested in the visual arts is welcome to join for a yearly membership fee of $40. Upstate Visual Arts members include, but are not limited to, art lovers, collectors, students, professional galleries and working artists from the upstate and beyond.