The Guilford College Art Gallery has existed for 11 years, as a result of large donations of pieces from two very generous families. However, due to recent budget cuts in the college, the gallery, which is located in Hege Library, has been forced to cut back on what it can be and do.“The administration did their best to not cut any department or program completely, but areas that were ‘nonessential’. This makes me very sad because I feel like I have not done a good enough job to prove that this is essential,” said Terry Hammond,director of the gallery.

Hammond is the only staff person who works solely in the gallery. Her position has been reduced to three days a week from August to May, the least amount of office time the gallery has ever had.

The cuts affect not only the amount of time that Hammond can work on the gallery, but what she can do for it. Major projects, such as putting the gallery’s collection online and creating a computer database, have been put on hold because of the limited time and resources.

“One of the changes is that we had two shows in the main gallery each semester, which were usually touring exhibitions. Now with my budget reductions, I’m not going to be able to do it,” she said. Loaning of the exhibition, rental fees, shipping expenses, insurance, publicity, are all too much for the gallery now. The gallery’s schedule has been cut down to one show each semester and the pieces will be from within the college’s collection rather than touring pieces.

When asked how she felt about the cuts in the gallery, art major Amelia Kinner said, “The cuts will definitely affect me as well as my classes. It’s sad that this has to happen, even if its not being completely cut , because the atmosphere here has always been filled with art and that’s important to a lot of people.”

Through all of the setbacks, however, Hammond remains positive. “The college fundraising office has given us permission to try and raise money independently…and it’s just getting underway,” she said. The fundraising effort is organized by members of the community who are concerned for the survival of the gallery and want to see it thrive.

Guilford is unique in that it utilizes the collections for teaching and opening up other uses for the gallery, and Hammond is sure that the gallery will not lose that uniqueness. “My ray of hope is that I have a dedicated group of gallery supporters who believe in the art gallery, to keep it going, keep it strong,” she said.

The gallery will open its next collection of faculty artwork on Friday, Sept. 21.The show will run through Dec. 14. For more information about the general collection or volunteer opportunities, contact Terry Hammond at x 2438 or [email protected].