Greetings from Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, where each day offers new spring views as our campus greens and blossoms. The robins have returned, and we’ve even had a visit from one of our neighborhood foxes. (See our April 6 Instagram post for video and photos.)

On Saturday, we launched our Sutcliffe Endowment Campaign to honor the legacy of co-founder Judy Sutcliffe. We’ve challenged ourselves to raising $100,000 in 100 days to support Shake Rag Alley forever. We are sincerely grateful for all of the donations received so far — $23,595 as of today — but we need your donation to make this dream a reality.

We’re looking forward to a creative month of workshops in visual arts, coppersmithing, creative entrepreneurship, torch welding, rag-rug weaving, pottery-wheel throwing, and spoon carving, with both virtual and safe and small-group on-campus options. Our free or low-cost monthly poetry workshop, Antiracism Book Club, and Women’s Art Party continue, and we’re gearing up for our annual Spring Garage Sale fundraiser April 16-17. Before long, we’ll be welcoming instructors and students to our first retreat of the year when Jewelry Boot Camp kicks off April 30. 

Read on for more information about supporting our Sutcliffe Endowment Campaign, and for ways you can engage your creativity with Shake Rag Alley this month. Please be in touch if we can answer any questions. You can reach us at info@shakeragalley.org or (608) 987-3292 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday when workshops are in session.