Associated Artists

What Associated Artists does

Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1956 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that supports visual artists across experience levels through exhibitions, education, and community programming. The organization is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors and is headquartered at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts; it runs more than 10 member exhibitions per year, holds 14+ exhibitions and 17+ events annually, and operates a Community Exhibit Program that places rotating member artwork in 12 partner businesses including Novant Health facilities, Broad Branch Distillery, and Kimpton Cardinal Hotel.

The organization's core products are: Member Exhibits (over 10 per year at the Milton Rhodes Center and other venues), the Community Exhibit Program (rotating quarterly art in 12+ businesses), Workshops and Classes (cold wax, color theory, bookbinding, sketchbook journaling, mixed media, taught by professional artists), the Bill Edwards Artist Development Fund (quarterly grants up to $500 for artist development), and Artist Meet-Ups (monthly networking at Broad Branch Distillery). Online sales channels include a website storefront and a LinkTree store cycling about six pieces weekly from current exhibitions. The technology stack is minimal: the website and member operations are powered by Wild Apricot membership-management SaaS, with no proprietary platform or AI capabilities.

Associated Artists monetizes through annual membership dues ($75 Associate, $20 Student), workshop and class fees ($15-$50 per class, with member discounts), commissions on member artwork sold through exhibits, and donations from members and supporters. Its customers are divided between individual artists and art appreciators (174 total members, 83 new/returning in the last year, against a historic peak of 600+) and venue-partner B2B relationships (healthcare, hospitality, legal, education) that receive rotating community art. The 2018 near-shutdown — loss of its W. 4th Street storefront, financial distress, and COVID-19 — is the defining historic event, from which the organization has rebuilt through venue diversification and volunteer-led recovery.

Name

Associated Artists

Legal name

Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, Inc.

Website

https://associatedartists.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associated Artists of Winston-Salem is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1956 that supports visual artists through 10+ annual exhibitions, a 12-venue Community Exhibit Program, workshops, and artist development grants in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts & Cultural Organization

NAICS

Museums (71211), Art Dealers (459920)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

Keywords

• Community art exhibits
• Artist membership programs
• Art education workshops
• Juried art exhibitions
• Nonprofit arts organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston-Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide core operational revenue. Associate membership at $75/year and student membership at $20/year.
2. Workshop Fees: Educational workshops and classes offered to members and non-members at varying price points. Member rates typically $15-$35 per class, non-member rates $30-$50.
3. Art Sales Commission: Artwork sold through exhibits generates revenue through sales facilitated by AAWS. All exhibits provide opportunity for artists to sell their work.
4. Donations: Donations from members and supporters provide additional funding. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Associated Artists of Winston-Salem (AAWS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides exhibition space, educational programming, and community engagement for visual artists in the Winston-Salem, NC area. The organization runs 10+ annual member exhibitions at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and rotates member artwork through 12+ local businesses via the Community Exhibit Program. It also offers workshops and classes, quarterly artist development grants (Bill Edwards Fund, up to $500), monthly artist meet-ups, and online storefronts for selling exhibited artwork.

Product overview

Associated Artists of Winston-Salem operates as a unified nonprofit arts organization providing a comprehensive ecosystem for visual artists. The core offering consists of exhibition opportunities—including over 10 annual member exhibits at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and a Community Exhibit Program spanning 12+ local businesses. The organization supplements exhibitions with educational programming through workshops and classes covering artistic techniques (cold wax, mixed media, bookbinding, color theory). Artist development is supported via the Bill Edwards Artist Development Fund, providing quarterly grants up to $500. Community building occurs through monthly Artist Meet-Ups and featured artist spotlights. The organization monetizes through Associate ($75/year) and Student ($20/year) memberships that grant exhibition access, workshop discounts, and directory listings. Two online storefronts (website and LinkTree) enable sales of exhibited artwork.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Exhibit Program A rotating exhibition program that places member artists' work in 12+ local businesses throughout Winston-Salem (hospitality, healthcare, retail, professional services), with quarterly rotation cycles in February, May, August, and November. Free to artists; provides public exposure to customers and patients.
• Member Exhibits More than 10 annual member-only exhibitions held at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and the Benton Convention Center Salem Foyer, allowing member artists to display and sell their work. Exhibits are free and open to the public, with most artwork available for sale.
• Workshops and Classes Educational programming covering techniques including cold wax, bookbinding, mixed media, color theory, pen and pencil sketching, and personal journaling. Taught by professional artists (e.g., Kimberly Varnadoe, retired Salem College Art Professor). Member rates $15-$35 per class; non-member rates $30-$50. Open to members and the public.
• Bill Edwards Artist Development Fund Quarterly grants of up to $500 awarded to AAWS member artists to fund workshops, classes, and professional development that enhance artistic practice, business, and marketing expertise. Administered by the Bill Edwards Fund Committee of the Board.
• Artist Meet-Ups Monthly social networking events hosted at Broad Branch Distillery where member and prospective artists can connect, trade Artist Trading Cards and Ornaments, and engage with the local Winston-Salem creative community. Open to members and visitors.
• Online Stores (AAWS Artwork Sales) Two online storefronts enabling purchase of original member artwork: the AAWS website store features art currently on display in exhibitions, and the LinkTree store cycles approximately 6 pieces at a time from current exhibitions. Sales of exhibited artwork generate commission revenue for the organization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 174 total members with 83 new/returning in one year, demonstrating membership growth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Broad Branch DistillerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome venue for monthly AAWS artist meet-ups. Hosts AAWS member artwork in their establishment. Serves as community gathering space for AAWS events and networking.
• Kimpton Cardinal HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt deco boutique hotel displaying AAWS member artwork. Art complements the hotel's decorative style. New partnership providing exposure for artists in upscale hospitality setting.
• Novant Health (multiple locations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system hosting AAWS art exhibitions at Maplewood Family Practice, Forsyth Family Medicine, Arcadia Family Health, and Urology Kimel Park locations. Provides calming aesthetic environment for patients while showcasing local art.
• Central Library - North Carolina Collection RoomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical archives including exhibition records, financial reports, newspaper clippings, board meeting minutes, posters, advertisements, members' cards and brochures, and AAWS yearbooks deposited for safekeeping. Available for research by appointment.
• Milton Rhodes Center for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome of AAWS headquarters and main gallery space. The organization's mission 'to give art a chance to be seen, by giving it a place to be shown' is housed within this arts center.
• Benton Convention CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalem Foyer gallery space utilized for curated fine art exhibitions. Excellent venue for larger scale works. Benton Summer/Fall and other exhibitions rotate through this convention center space.
• Masonic Center of Winston-SalemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallery space hosting exhibitions including Winter Wonderland show. Used for workshops and classes as well as exhibition openings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Penland School of Craft: North Carolina-based nonprofit craft education institution offering workshops, residencies, and community programs. Comparable as a regional visual arts/crafts education provider, but with a residential focus and broader geographic draw.
• Reynolda House Museum of American Art: Winston-Salem art museum offering exhibitions, educational programming, and community engagement. Comparable as a regional visual arts institution in the same city, but operates at significantly larger scale and as a museum rather than a member guild.
• Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts: Tennessee-based nonprofit arts and crafts education center offering workshops, exhibitions, and community programming. Similar community-driven nonprofit model with comparable workshop, exhibition, and artist development programming.
• Center for Craft: Asheville, NC-based national craft nonprofit advancing the field through grants, research, and programs. Comparable mission (supporting artists and craft practice) and similar grantmaking/community focus, but operates regionally/nationally rather than in Winston-Salem.

Broad incumbents

• Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit arts advocacy and service organization supporting local arts agencies, councils, and community arts programs across the U.S. Operates as a broad incumbent in the same ecosystem but at a national rather than community level.
• National Guild for Community Arts Education: National membership organization representing community-based arts education providers. Directly comparable in mission (community arts education) and member-driven structure, but operates as a broad national umbrella rather than a single local organization.

Direct peers

• Sawtooth School for Visual Art: Winston-Salem visual art school offering workshops, classes, and studio programs for emerging and professional artists. Directly comparable in mission (visual arts education and community engagement) and overlapping member/donor base in the same city.
• Piedmont Craftsmen: Winston-Salem-based nonprofit guild of fine craft artists with gallery, exhibitions, workshops, and membership structure. Highly comparable community-led visual arts organization in the same city with similar volunteer-driven model and craft/visual arts focus.
• Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County: The local arts council founded by the same group that established AAWS in 1956. Operates in the same Winston-Salem geography, providing grants, community programs, and arts advocacy with overlapping artist and patron constituencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associated-artists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Associated Artists