The first Artisans Expo supports endowed and annual scholarship funds for non-traditional students.
Expo goers check out jewelry at the weekend event.
The Adult Studies Program (ASP) at Virginia Wesleyan College held its first Artisan's Expo on Friday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 4. The event featured more than 50 local artists and artisans highlighting an array of fine arts such as hand crafts, pottery, art glass, jewelry, metalwork and more.
The event, which featured a silent auction and Preview Party on Friday, raised roughly $11,700 through sponsorships, donations, Preview Party tickets, booth rentals by the artists, the silent auction and concessions. Most of the money raised will support endowed and annual scholarship funds for non-traditional students.
"We are very tired, but very happy," said Kathleen Reese, outreach coordinator for the ASP and co-chair of the event.
The weekend event kicked off Friday evening with the ASP Silver Anniversary reception and Preview Party. Local artist Ali Rogan designed a cast glass and metal piece specifically for the Preview Party and also sold other pieces at the Expo over the weekend.
Rich Hoehlein, director of the ASP, called the event a "wonderful weekend," and thanked the Virginia Wesleyan community and the artisans for their support.
"Our participating artists and artisans were very gracious to take a chance on a first-year venture," said Hoehlein. "Nearly half (40 percent) have already indicated they plan to be back next year, and we are already looking forward to making this annual event bigger and better."
The event was co-chaired by Reese and her colleague, Catherine Anninos, academic adviser for the ASP. The two came up with the idea earlier this year after an adult woman looking to finish her degree told the duo she couldn't afford to go to college.
"This woman really wanted to come here [Virginia Wesleyan] and finish her degree, but with three children she simply couldn't afford it," said Reese. "So at that moment we decided let's fix that problem and create our own ASP scholarship fund."
Several groups and individuals from the Virginia Wesleyan community were involved with the event ranging from alumni, current students to College staff. Students from the ASP and alumni created the silent auction committee and volunteered at the Preview Party. Students in Dr. Robert Albertson's, associate dean of the College and professor of management, business & economics, MBE Management 301 class were broken into groups and helped to manage the event.
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