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Melissa Starker, Creative Content & PR Manager
Dec 16, 2020
One of the things we look forward to each year as part of "normal" activities are our public exhibition previews, in no small part due to the chance to see a wealth of Wex members together in our galleries, connecting with our staff, the artists and works we support, and each other. The pandemic has put a temporary hold on these and other on-site events, but this challenge has inspired our membership team to think of other ways to provide unique engagement opportunities, and to partner with curators and artists to foster a better understanding of the Wex's mission as a laboratory for the creation of contemporary art.
This summer brought the launch of Wednesdays with the Wex, a members-only series of online conversations on a variety of topics held on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Set up in Zoom as a group meeting so that everyone can see and engage with the other attendees, these talks are casual and cocktail-friendly, like an intimate happy hour with some of the most interesting people in the contemporary art world. Guests have included Love Rollercoaster creator Tomashi Jackson (seen at top of page); artist Glenn Ligon and filmmaker Catherine Gund discussing Aggie, Gund's documentary about her mother, philanthropist Agnes Gund; and filmmakers Kelly Gallagher, Cameron Granger, and Christopher Harris, who each contributed to the Artist Residency Award project Cinetracts '20.
As we've created this opportunity and consider more ideas to grow our special relationship with members, we've worked to keep the majority of Wex public programming free or low-cost. Access is central to our efforts, especially now, as so many are struggling with extreme economic and social upheaval. We hope you've taken advantage of such online offerings, that you've enjoyed and been enriched by programming like the virtual screenings in The Box, the conversation with the founders of the podcast Ear Hustle, the creations of our Wex [EP] artists, or the interviews, tutorials, and recommendations shared here on Read, Watch, Listen.
On the flip side, the commitment to share these efforts with as wide an audience as possible, along with circumstances unique to 2020, has meant that the Wex has all but lost the revenue typically generated from ticket sales and event rentals.
Now more than ever, the support of Wex members helps us continue to provide such experiences to audiences in central Ohio and beyond. We hope that you'll not only consider joining or renewing if you're in a position to do so, but that you'll share the benefits of membership with someone you love.
Think of it as a virtual hug that will be felt for a whole year, and it's an easy last-minute gift idea. You can write a note in a holiday card to be shared while opening presents to let your recipient know that the gift of membership is coming. We'll follow up shortly after with a letter direct to the giftee sharing their official member card and an explanation of the benefits they'll receive.
We're so grateful to everyone who supports the Wex, whether through membership, a ticket purchase, or just spending some time on this website. We wish you all peace and light in this holiday season and we so look forward to seeing you in our galleries again, as well as our performance spaces and Film/Video Theater. Exciting things are coming in the year ahead.
To learn more about Wex membership benefits, visit this page or email Katie Laux, Director of Visitor Experience.
Top of page: artist Tomashi Jackson during the November 18 Wednesdays with the Wex event on Zoom
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