Please help support the MAA artists as they participate in the following events:

I am so pleased to report that the last twelve months have been exciting and rewarding for all those people who have worked so diligently to support the mission of the Mountain Arts Association, Inc. (MAA).

The simple goal established by MAA when it was first organized in 2003 remains the same today -- to create and support artists, art-related exhibitions, educational events, and art appreciation in the tri-state area.

With this in mind, MAA was proud to award two $1,000 scholorships to outstanding high school students seeking higher education in art majors. Also, two elementary students, under the recommendation of the MAA Board, attended John C. Campbell's "Little Middle" program this past summer. A goal for 2010 is to be in the postion of sponsoring students for "Little Middle." We treated over 75 children to our Annual Children's Holiday Workshop at Brasstown Valley Resort in early December of last year, and plans are already underway to host the same event at Brasstown on December 12.

It was difficult to say good-bye to MAA's "Hiawassee Festival of Art" that we worked so hard to create. However, we moved forward to pursue new avenues for art exhibitions and education. Partnering with Brasstown Valley Resort, MAA opened the Brasstown Resort Art Gallery on April 3, 2009. It is a perpetually changing two-dimensional exhibit featuring MAA members' art work. This continues to be a tremendous success.

Seeking ways to better serve our memebers, we designed a new website, www.themountainartsassociation.org, providing opportunities to feature member artists and the particular events in which they participate. The new membership page gives us more information about each of you and what you would liek to see in this organization. This is also a means to inform members of volunteer opportunities. Our most recent addition is a monthly E-BLAST, and members receive a monthly "Calendar of Art Opportunities."

Future plans of MAA include expanding on the goals previously mentioned, exploring new areas of interest and support to our members, and organizing an exciting and different 3-D art event perhaps in the Fall of 2010.

I invite you to join us as we continue to support artists and fine art in our communities.

Barbara Terrell, President