Hello, Our Story is About Change

Although River Art Works is a young organization, we have already built a history of change and continue to evolve to meet the needs of our region. Today's needs are fast paced, impacted by increasingly more powerful and influential technologies. Yet, Americans still hold dear the value that our history has taught us as important, such as the traditional arts and their influence on daily activities, education, motor skills development, mental well being, overall health, population movement, and even effects workforce development.

River Art Works sees the need to build collaborations and strengthen our arts community. When this happens, our region begins to address an offensive strategy toward a better place to live, work, and play. The region can then begin to move from stagnation into futuristic plan that is makes sense for everyone.

To this end River Art Works, lead by it's Founder, has lead the art community by establishing committees that specifically address the future of support of the art:.

1. A University Leadership Committee that consists of ten Universities are taking time quarterly to consider how to better develop programs that are inclusive of artists continued support. 

2. ArtTEK for TEENS is an after school high school program that helps creative students cross over the technology divide into a world of creative technology. The goal is  to provide an opportunity to graduate high school with broader skillsets that provide sustainable incomes. Small workshops provide one-on-one training within the actual communities.

3. River Art Works established Westmoreland Arts Coalition, a nonlegal organization that gathers leaders of the Westmoreland Region art organizations together monthly in order to build collaborative opportunities and help sustain struggling organizations.

4. River Art Works held trendy community events such as Art Tournament and Pop-Up Art Events, as well as participating in community gatherings.

River Art Works looks forward to continue spurring growth of our region's arts community. We are in it for the long haul. Research has shown that our region REQUIRES strong support of the arts in order to move forward. We are planning to substantiate our findings through a 3rd party Feasibility Study in 2024. After that study is release, it will be used as a guiding star for our region's art community.

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