Dear Sawtooth Friends,
For 80 years, Sawtooth School for Visual Art has provided high-quality, hands-on art classes and workshops for all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels in Winston-Salem. It’s been inspiring to see generations of instructors and students exhibit nationally, win awards, and launch new endeavors—like galleries, cooperatives, and markets—that support other artists and grow our creative footprint.
But it’s also been heartwarming to see the small ways our classes and workshops have transformed people across our community—brightening their day, increasing their self-esteem, or bringing them comfort in tough times.
Like Sheila, who told us that our Art + Wellness workshops at the Generations Center, “help me to relieve stress from taking care of my mother.” She’s been able to take over two dozen workshops this year, totally free of charge, thanks to the generosity of donors like you.
Or Brandi, whose ten-year-old daughter “has taken several painting classes…where she can learn new skills but express her creativity in her own way. She makes friends easily and always wants to register for the next class when one ends.”
There’s Javier, who shared how, “Sawtooth has been pivotal to my mental health. It’s helped me create an outlet, maintain good habits, decrease my anxiety…and being part of a community does wonders for my depression.”
Mel echoed these statements, saying, “I live paycheck to paycheck, but this is my therapy, so I’ve got to pay whatever price it is.”
Sawtooth is more than a nonprofit community art school. It’s clear that, after eight decades, we’ve also become a place to heal, to connect, to explore, and to grow. New studios alongside our scholarships, tuition assistance, and outreach programs have helped our offerings reach more people, but these endeavors rely heavily on community financial support from donors like you.
Whether you’re looking to make a charitable donation this holiday season or provide a year-end gift to a beloved non-profit, consider supporting Sawtooth so we can help bring powerful, creative experiences to people across Winston-Salem and harness the transformative power of creativity.
In Partnership,
Lauren Davis