Well•Spring and Weatherspoon Art Museum announce exciting partnership for exhibitions, education opportunities

GREENSBORO, N.C – Weatherspoon Art Museum and Well•Spring, A Life Plan Community today (August 27) announced a special reciprocal partnership that will provide Well•Spring residents exposure to world-class artwork and art education opportunities and the Weatherspoon with a unique outlet for exhibiting works from its collection.

The Weatherspoon’s dedicated and rotating exhibition space is part of a new $30-million addition of amenities at Well•Spring’s flagship operation, including new dining options and a Resident Activity Center, featuring a 320-seat theater, art studios, a wood working and hobby shop and more. Space off a new concourse connecting these areas has been supported by a generous gift from Jo Safrit, a Well•Spring resident and longtime Weatherspoon supporter. In turn, the space – to be known as the Jo Safrit & Cathy Ennis Gallery – is being provided to the Weatherspoon for rotating exhibits.

In addition to potential talks and workshops on various art subjects, Well•Spring will underwrite and host an annual Distinguished Visiting Artist Lecture, spotlighting artists chosen by the Weatherspoon who epitomize the museum’s focus on contemporary and modern art. The lecture expands on Well•Spring’s long relationship with The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, of which the Weatherspoon is part, and the life plan community’s commitment to continuing education opportunities for its residents.

The new Resident Activity Center is slated to be completed late this year.

“Well•Spring is thrilled with this new relationship with the Weatherspoon,” said K. Alan Tutterow, executive director of Well•Spring, A Life Plan Community. “While the gallery is not a terribly large space, it is a high-profile, defined area that all of our residents and many of our visitors will pass by. It’s incredible that we will be able to display art of the caliber for which the Weatherspoon is known and to work with the museum on engaging educational opportunities, including the annual lecture. This is a great fit for both Well•Spring and the Weatherspoon.”

Nancy Doll, director of the Weatherspoon, agreed.

“The Weatherspoon has longstanding connections with Well•Spring,” Doll said. “Residents attend some of our lectures, exhibition receptions and other special programs. Moreover, a good number of Well•Spring residents are museum members, and some have been dedicated docents, offering tours to groups from K-12 through adults. This effort also meets one of the goals of our current Strategic Plan – to increase collaborations with key external community partners. We welcome this opportunity to partner with Well•Spring, another organization that fills an important role in Greensboro.”

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