End of Year Message from our Executive Director

Dear Valued Member of the WSW Family and Advocate for the Arts,

Hello there! I hope this message reaches you in good spirits, amidst a season of joy and gratitude. As 2024 draws to a close, I’m honored to write to you in my first year as Women’s Studio Workshop’s Executive Director. Reflecting on this milestone year—our 50th anniversary—I am filled with awe and gratitude for WSW’s incredible legacy. For five decades, WSW has persevered, supporting thousands of artists worldwide while amplifying voices that absolutely need to be heard.

This year has been nothing short of remarkable. Together, we’ve accomplished so much! Here are some highlights:

• Launched a nationwide traveling exhibition showcasing artists’ books and WSW’s 50-year history. Starting at the San Francisco Center for the Book and concluding at the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, this exhibition has already made a significant impact.
• Invested over $211,000 in artists, paying for commissions, stipends, royalties and artistic services.
• Published two impactful new works, including gender liberators by Sky Syzygy and Karlin in Bed by Ruthe Karlin.
• Hosted groundbreaking programs, such as a multi-day convening of 15 organizations stewarding community-based archival projects, in partnership with the Hauser & Wirth Institute.
• Sold thousands of dollars’ worth of artists’ books, placing them in prominent collections worldwide.
• Continued to build our new 5,000-square-foot studio facility, which will house our ceramics program, artist book editions program, and affordable studio rentals.
• Navigated a leadership transition with strength and clarity, preparing for the next 50 years of impact.

These milestones are a testament to WSW’s unwavering commitment to its mission:

• Advocating for underserved voices: WSW envisions a cultural landscape where the work of women, trans, nonbinary, intersex, and gender-fluid artists is integral, visible, and historically recorded.
• Creating intergenerational opportunities: Through our programs, artists at all stages of their careers connect, collaborate, and thrive.
• Mentoring artists through hands-on engagement: At WSW, mentorship happens naturally, side-by-side in the studio, fostering invaluable connections.
• Publishing radical artists’ books: Our imprint gives underserved artists a platform to share their voices while placing their work in major institutions, providing validation, income, and lasting connections with curators, collectors, and museums.

Artists are the backbone of freedom of expression, and their work contributes immeasurably to society’s well-being. At WSW, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide brave spaces where artists can express themselves freely. Even in the face of challenges, we continue to amplify voices, break barriers, and champion the transformative power of visual art.

Our future depends on you. Your end-of-year gift will help us:

• Expand our studio team to meet the increasing demand for artists’ books and programs.
• Support hundreds of artists through residencies, commissions, and mentorship.
• Ensure that WSW remains a sanctuary for free expression, innovation, and community.

Please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by donating online at https://wsworkshop.org/support-us/donate/. We would also love to hear from you! Reach out to us by email at [email protected] or give us a call anytime at (845) 658-9133. If you’re nearby, stop by and say hello—and if you’d like a guided tour of our new building in progress, let us know. We’d be delighted to share our vision with you!

I’m looking forward to meeting each of you in the months ahead—to thank you personally, hear your ideas, and explore how we can continue building WSW’s bright future together. Together, we embody what WSW has always been: a strong foundation for the visual arts. Please join me in this endeavor as we continue to make a lasting difference in people’s lives every day.

Thank you in advance for your generous support, for being an essential part of our story, and for helping to shape our legacy and our future. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a wonderful New Year! I can’t wait to connect with you and see all that 2025 has in store for us.

Gratefully yours, with admiration and my warmest thanks,
Sharon Louden
Executive Director