Annual Report for 2013

The Touchstone Foundation for the Arts (TFA) is a nonprofit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization created by the artists of Touchstone Gallery in Washington, DC. The mission of TFA is to expand the reach of Touchstone Gallery and its artists into our community.

The mission of TFA is to expand the outreach programs of Touchstone Gallery into our community. TFA creates opportunities for young and emerging artists in our area to develop and exhibit professionally. TFA is also working to bring artists into the community as volunteer teachers.

TFA’s inaugural project was the creation of the Touchstone Young Artists Fellowship. The fellowship is open to Washington area artists between the age of 18-29 and is designed to help emerging artists to develop professionally through a two-year membership in the Touchstone Gallery, mentoring by established artists, participation in gallery group shows, and a culminating solo show at the end of the two year fellowship.

The first two Young Artist Fellows were selected through an open jurying process and began in June, 2103. The competition for the 2014 fellowship began in January, 2014 and will culminate with the naming of a new fellow or fellows in the Spring of 2014.

TFA also sponsored the first solo exhibition by Charles Meissner, an artist with Art Enables, a program that provides studio and gallery resources to artists with disabilities. The Meissner show, entitled “28th Century”, brought some 20 pieces of his highly personal, intricate artwork to a large audience.

TFA hopes to use 2014 to grow programs which bring artists into community institutions to share their skills and knowledge through teaching and demonstration.

Board of Directors

Ellyn R. Weiss, President Visual Artist and Independent Curator

Paul So, Treasurer Professor of Physics and owner, Hamiltonian Gallery

Anita Miller, Secretary Developmental Psychologist