Connie Whitlock
WHAM Art Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at 16560 N. Dysart Road in Surprise, founded in 2006, and promotes artistic awareness and participation through visual and literary arts programs, exhibits, and projects. The Art Center is an 8,500 sq ft facility with artist studios, classrooms, a professional art gallery, a sculpture garden, clay and glass studios, as well as a traveling art studio.
WHAM is a community-based art center located in the town of Surprise, created primarily to support the communities west of the Phoenix Metro area. The 8,500 sq ft, fully equipped community art center offers 18 working artists’ studios, three classrooms, a professional art gallery, a sculpture garden, a newly renovated state-of-the-art clay facility surpassing any in the West Valley, and a traveling art studio.
WHAM began operations in 2006 with no staff and a few members. Today, over 300 artists are members in a variety of disciplines, from all over the West Valley. The Center is run by 14 management team members. WHAM’s reputation as THE Community Art Center in the West Valley has grown. Free and open to the public, WHAM galleries are booked year-round. WHAM produces community events on-site and at parks and festivals. Annually, a range of fee-based art classes for all ages and abilities is offered throughout the year. Six West Valley cities feature WHAM-produced public art. WHAM conducts outreach classes to people living with disabilities, veterans, and people living with dementia.
WHAM and its Director are the recipients of several community recognition awards. WHAM was created with the notion that the arts should not be exclusive, and that art is for everybody.
Interests
WHAM is committed to bringing the ARTS to ALL, no matter age, ethnicity, economic status, gender, education, or religious beliefs. Our focus has been to teach art techniques to the community for their benefit, providing an avenue to a better quality of life. Now, with the NeuroArts focus, we can give our students a way to understand what is happening to their brain and body when creating.