The Vegas Artists Guild was founded in the spring of 1996 by a group of local Las Vegas, Nevada artists, led by Andre Mouton now a resident of Colorado.

The Guild filed as a non-profit organization with the State of Nevada for all artists in the Las Vegas area. The original board has moved on, but the Vegas Artists Guild is currently in the process of re-inventing itself, beginning with our new board, voted into office in January 2000. Our new logo is a symbol the current boards dedication to our motto: "ARTISTS HELPING ARTISTS."

An important mission of VEGAS ARTISTS GUILD and its primary purpose is to bring talented established and emerging artists in the Las Vegas area to the public's attention. Local amateur and professional artists of the Vegas Artists Guild reach these goals through meetings, workshops and demonstrations, art shows and networking.

Guild meetings are held at the Clark County Library located at 1401 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada on the second Monday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. in the large conference room. Further information may be obtained by calling the Membership Chairman or the President.

Our Newsletter, "The Vegas Artists Guild Exhibitor", published monthly, is a great source of timely information. This includes upcoming demonstrations, workshops, grants/loans, membership information and activities, juried and non-juried shows both inside and outside the Guild. Each month, one guild member is selected as the Artist of the Month. That artist is featured in an article in the Exhibitor.

In addition, members of the Guild with membership cards receive a discount on art supplies at either Desert Art Supply stores as well as Dick Blick Art Supply stores.

Membership in the Guild has many benefits including exhibition opportunities such as Guild sponsored shows, free on-going exhibit spaces in Las Vegas, in addition to many special events within the city in which Guild members participate. Current art exhibitors include Kate Johnson at the All State Agency in Henderson, Ellen Gianni Nelson showing at Brewed Awakening, and Rejean St. Jules at Nevada Power both in Las Vegas.

One of the highlights of Guild participation is the annual "Taste of Vegas" event in which members have presented their art at for the past three years. In the 2001 "Taste", the following members were in the show: Jane Marquez, Margaret Loyd, Mazel Zimmerman, Beverly Cardarelli, Polly Weiner, Ann Carter, Yoko Konopik, Anneliese Kielhorn, Merle Blair, Patricia Tanton, Ben Krug, Terry Ritter, Kelly Patterson, Barbara Richards, Gae Hirsch, Rejean St. Jules, Cheryl Weinfertner, Shawn Ealy, Edwige Krieger, Jerome Hamilton and Brent Land.

Many Guild members actively perform Community Service including Masel Zimmerman and her husband, Frank, who are currently marketing T shirts and flag bumper stickers through the Guild with proceeds going to the disaster relief in New York City. Also Gae Hirsch who has donated art to benefit the Contemporary Arts Collective, the Lili Claire Foundation, and Juvenile Diabetes. Guild members were recognized with acceptance of a Merle Blair watercolor by the Boulder City Art Guild, which will be donated to the Rotary Club Auction benefiting the Boulder City High School graduation party, and Merle Blair's oil was accepted in the Susan G. Korman competition "Arts for the Cure."

Membership in the Guild currently stands at just below one hundred and is constantly growing. This is due in part to the outstanding efforts of the President, Board of Directors and their committees, through exiting art programs each month, and opportunities in new products, services, and exhibit spaces afforded to members. The Membership roster is published once yearly with fellow Guild members' names, telephone numbers and addresses. This allows members more access to each other in order to network and help one another.

Annual elections of the Guild Board of Directors are held at the December general membership meeting. Officers and committees which comprise the board include President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Trustees, Membership Chairman, Member-at-Large, Show Committee, Historian, Program Committee, Newsletter Committee, Publicity Committee, Phone Committee, and Refreshment Committee.