WHAM = What's Happen'n Art Movement
WHAM Art Association (WHAM) is a community oriented 501 (c) (3) organization that is bringing the ARTS to people of all ages, race, abilities, and economic status in many of the West Valley Cities. WHAM‘s mission is to provide innovative, multidisciplinary, arts-inclusive programming, exhibits, and projects to the diverse communities we serve. As an organization, we are interested in enhancing economic development and artistic collaboration for our members, the community, and other organizations.
WHAM Art Association is committed to support and promote art awareness and participation in the West Valley through exhibits, art walks, public art, festivals, art education and instructional art classes.
Continuing our motto of being “Inclusive” not “Exclusive”, bringing the ARTS to the masses WHAM not only teaches traditional art classes to adults and children but provides a variety of outreach programs to an under-served population such as: Veterans with PTSD; Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs; Teens at Risk; Patients with Alzheimer’s and Sex Trafficked Girls. The 8500 sq. ft. WHAM Surprise community art center offers 17 working artist’s studios, 3 classrooms, and a professional art gallery, and a traveling art studio to take art to the parks. In addition to helping to promote local artists through exhibits throughout the West Valley, WHAM is also involved in numerous projects such as: public art murals, art festivals, art walks, and community art classes.
WHAM is a member of the Arizona Citizens for the Arts, West Valley Women’s Organization, WESTMARC, Arizona Art Alliance, Local First Arizona, Surprise Chamber of Commerce. WHAM partners with Dysart School District; Surprise Arts and Culture; Peoria Arts and Culture; El Mirage Arts; Glendale Arts and Culture; Goodyear Arts and Culture; Avondale Arts and Culture and Buckeye Arts and Culture. Offering Art throughout the West Valley.
WHAM provides an annual “Bowls of Hope” event where handmade clay bowls are sold during the holidays to make money to give to charity. This event gives to West Valley Charities such as: Eve’s Place, Valley Vista Food Bank, St. Mary’s Food Bank, StreetlightUSA; Teen Connection; Veteran’s homeless shelters. WHAM gives so people in our community don’t go hungry!