SALISBURY — More than 250 people attended Wake Up with Waterworks’ visionary breakfast Thursday, May 2 at the F&M Trolley Barn.
Guests were invited to a free one-hour friendraising/fundraising breakfast aimed at raising funds to support programming and heightening awareness of the importance of the visual arts and Waterworks’ exhibitions, education, and outreach programs to the Salisbury community.
Guest speakers for the event included: Susan Kluttz, secretary of the state Department of Cultural Resources; Keona Simon-Kabore, case manager for Rowan Helping Ministries; Laura Jane Ritchie and Don Sayers.
“(This) breakfast event was a great way to bring people together to hear the exciting things happening at Waterworks,” Kluttz said. “Waterworks deserves support from all of us to continue its role in making Salisbury the special place it is.”
Following breakfast, the audience watched a video that highlighted the important programs that Waterworks offers to the community.
Waterworks provides three rotating exhibitions from professional local, regional and national artists annually.
Education programs include 5th grade ARTstops, studio classes for adults and children, summer ARTventures for children, a middle school art residency program for up to 30 students, artists lectures and workshops.
Through community partnerships, Waterworks provides art programs for Rowan Helping Ministries’ New Tomorrows programs, Rowan County Parks & Recreation’s Therapeutic Recreation Program serving the developmentally disabled and mentally disabled, the Ramblers serving the blind; Catawba College, Pfeiffer University, and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College serving as an extended classroom for art, photography, and clay classes; and successful community partnerships with Abundant Living Adult Day Services, Historic Salisbury Foundation, Plein Air Carolina, Rowan Public Library, Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks.
“Wake Up with Waterworks was an intimate and fun introduction to exactly how we fulfill our mission each day of providing diverse opportunities in the arts for all people through exhibitions, education, and outreach programs,” said Nancy Wyrick, president of the Board of Directors for Waterworks. “Many people were surprised to learn about Waterworks’ involvement in the community through our outreach programs.”
Waterworks would like to thank sponsors F&M Bank, Crescent Construction Services, and ToraLab, along with IHOP, Miller Davis Studios and Dunkin’ Donuts.