Jean’s Notes

What is it, about the arts, that causes people to start not-for-profit organizations? It’s not for the profit. It says so right in the name. As long as we are asking questions, why do people come to and support non-profit art organizations? What is the attraction?

Artists who join VGA tell me they joined because they found like-minded people who share in the experienceof creating art. But where does that leave all the non-artists? Why do they stop in? What are they looking for? 

The typical answer is, non-profit art organizations play a crucial role in our society by fostering creativity, promoting cultural diversity, and providing access to the arts for all individuals. That is all true, but I think there’s more to it than that.

If you search the web for data supporting the importance of non-profit organizations to a community, you get an economic reason. “In 2022, the non-profit arts and culture sector in the U.S. generated $151.7 billion in economic activity. This includes $73.3 billion in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $78.4 billion in event-related expenditures by their audiences.” OK – but people don’t drop in just to support the local economy. 

Recently an email from Susan Pfahl, one of our teachers, was forwarded to me. Susan was commenting on reactions she received from people in her most recent watercolor class. Susan wrote, “Several people said they attended watercolor classes elsewhere, and were shown how to do a wash, and then some other activity with watercolor. But it did not result in any kind of finished work, and they were disappointed.”  

She went on to say, “I have always tried to offer simple paintings that people easily follow, painting along and ending up with a painting good enough to be “refrigerator art”. I will talk about techniques as I go. People try them. Results are mixed, but most people end up with something refrigerator worthy. One person said that she thought the class was expensive until she realized how many hours of instruction she was receiving. Then she said it was a bargain. Two others agreed.”

Oh – there it is. The desire to share an art experience is a universal human need to create.

Jean Yarger, VGA 2025 President