The Monroe Art Guild was founded in 1993. A group of local artists discovered each other as a result of a severe weather downburst which did significant damage to downtown Monroe. The community came together to make restorations through various fundraising events and activities. A benefit art show was among these efforts organized to help raise funds to repair the damage to downtown. Held at the McDaniel-Tichenor House, it provided the seed for the group of artists to come together and form a guild.Volunteers contacted the City about renovating of the downtown post office which had been vacant for a period of time to convert it into an art gallery and classroom facility. Diligent in their efforts, the group raised money and went to work painting, scraping and sprucing up the space. These efforts occurred largely between 1993 and 1997. Period shows, lectures, etc. were held during the renovation phase for the public. The Walton County Foundation has been very generous in offering our guild grants for the restorations.
We remain forever indebted to the Mayor and City Council of Monroe for their commitment to the visual arts. We are very grateful stewards of this historic structure in downtown Monroe.
Today the Monroe Art Guild houses a gallery, members' gallery, student gallery, black and white darkroom and pottery studio.
The Guild has been the recipient of grants from the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Metropolitan Atlanta Community Foundation and the Grassroots Program of the Georgia Council for the Arts. They are affiliated with the Ga. Assembly of Community Arts Agencies and the Ga. Association of Museums & Galleries. These grants have produced a black & white photography darkroom, a state-of-the-art kiln and a big screen TV for showing art films, pottery wheels, slab rollers, etc.
The Monroe Art Guild is a member of the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries and the Georgia Assembly of Community Arts Agencies.
