We need your help! An important part of the mission of Woodstock School of Art (WSA) is to preserve and maintain the historic buildings for continued use as an art school. Originally constructed in 1939 as a New Deal/National Youth Administration camp for providing instruction to rural youth in applied arts such as woodworking, masonry, blacksmithing and pottery, the native timber and bluestone buildings were built by the students themselves. They were trained in the building arts by local unemployed artists and craftsman, notably Tomas Penning, the stone sculptor who helped design the studios. The five buildings comprising the studios, office and gallery are listed on NYS and National Registers of Historic Places. The roof of the building housing studio 1 and 2 is the original slate roof from 1939. Over the years, the slate has been maintained, but in recent years, leaks have become notably worse. As the leaks become more pronounced, it is important for us to replace the roof to maintain the structural integrity of the building.

There are many organizations to choose from on this day of giving, so why help us raise the roof?

Generally, there is a feeling that WSA is home to a majority of the students who enroll. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and there is a palpable presence of joy in people who are self-actualizing and engaging in creative endeavors in a friendly environment. Many of the WSA students are retired older adults who finally have found the time to make art; others come from all walks of life, many are professionals working on a regular basis in the greater NY/metro area who come to unwind on weekends. WSA also provides a possibility for working professional artists to earn meaningful income as WSA instructors. More than 40 artists are on the roster for 2017.

We hope you will join our campaign today by making a contribution.