Time to Join the Prince William Art Society!
January 2026. The time to join, and to rejoin the Prince William Art Society, also known as PWAS (pronounced "P-Whazz")! The time is NOW through January 1- 31, 2026. Here is how and why you need to get your membership to Prince William County's oldest art group
Who is PWAS?
The Prince William Art Society is a group of people that love art.
The group itself is a 501(3)c nonprofit art group that has been in Prince William County for over 50 years. The mission is on the PWAS website with the group promoting the arts in and all around the county. Art membership is for adult artists (18 and over) and the membership has varied considerably over the years, perhaps depending on what the art group is up to, ranging in numbers of above 125 people - and that's when we had access to an art gallery.
A gallery of our own will truly enhance the visual arts culture and art appreciation within Prince William County. And if you ever came by any of our previous art shows and gallery appearances - you know, we can put on a show! What do artists want to do but SHOW what they do!
The search has been on for our own art space again and see the articles on that below. And if you see a potential space - LET THE BOARD know!! Get the phone and/or email too.
PWAS attends, sponsors, and hosts art shows all over the area as a group and as individual members. The largest art project we sponsored in 2025 was the Best of the Region Art Show at the ARTfactory in July 2025.
About PWAS - A History of a Prince William County Art Group
Why Join PWAS?
The benefits of joining an art group are many and very compelling. In a recent art questionnaire, PWAS members were asked what they would have done earlier in their art careers had they known, and several answered - Join an art group earlier! Here are some of the more outstanding reasons to join:
- By joining/rejoining PWAS before the Monday, January 26, 2026 scheduled meeting, your membership gives you the opportunity to vote for the new PWAS Board.
- The members love creating art, learning more about art, sharing their art, and potentially selling their art.
- Develop and hone art skills, art business knowledge, how to display and show art.
- Learn more about Art Commissions, Pricing Art, and making Art Prints.
- Monthly art group meetings that target interesting art ideas, art presentations, educational and fun art projects and art group information.
- Opportunities of individual and group art promotions via social media and the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog. See Schedule for more ways for you to be on this blog.
- Access to Work Shops and Classes, some are free! Event Registrations when available are often posted here first.
- Access to the PWAS Art Store, which posts art shows that may not have a point of sale system for the art show like in a library or winery.
- Access to area art shows, festivals, and more, sometimes free or at a reduced rate, along with access to PWAS Members only art shows. Sometimes it is first come - first served as limited space may be a concern.
- Access to the Facebook PWAS Chat - a private FB group of current members only. Many area Calls for Art are posted there as well as interesting art info and other fun stuff or polls.
- Access to art opportunities like:
- Field Trips like to the Smithsonian
- Area Gallery Visits like at the Lorton Workhouse
- First notice of area Calls for Art
- Art groups can and should always be not only a community of various and very diverse artists of every conceivable skill level, but a community of art friends where we learn from each other, help and encourage each other, and cheer each other's successes.
PWAS Benefits to Joining an Art Group
How to Join PWAS?
There are 2 ways to join the art group and the first thing to do is select the type of membership that fits you best by going to the PWAS Website.
1. Online - the quickest and easiest is via the online link on the PWAS website at https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
2. Via Mail - Put a stamp on it! Send your membership selection and information to: PO BOX 2013, Woodbridge, VA 22195. You'll need to note your email and phone number so that we can contact you and let you get PWAS notifications!
When to Join PWAS?
PWAS membership runs from January to December (the calendar year) with the rejoin set for January 31. Don't run the risk of losing access to community email updates and private Facebook Chat group info. Sure, you could join at a prorated rate at the half year point, but you won't be notified of upcoming art events in the meantime.
Do You Need an Online Web Presence?
Some artists do not have an online web presence at all, or perhaps they only have a Facebook Page, while another artist may have their own art website too. Either way, the PWAS website gives the members the option to have an online Showcase - Gallery Page that is good for one calendar year.
There is an annual Showcase fee, and any active PWAS Member can be included on the PWAS Artist Showcase. This fee is not prorated. To see the current Members participating in the Artist Gallery and to see samples of their work, go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/artist-gallery
After the potential PWAS member has paid the website fee(s) and the confirmation letter is received (via the PO Box or paid online), the artist can be included on the site. Send the webmaster (web.admin@princewilliamartsociety.com) your bio information and about 9 up to 12 good quality images (YOU can add a watermark if you like, but DO crop out any background) of your artwork via email attachment. Please view the other artist pages to get an idea of how your page will be formatted and set up with the info you provide.
Include your sidebar info: Email, Website URL(s), Social links names and links, Mediums, Accept Commissions?, Subjects, then your short bio. The artwork includes the Name, Size (ex. 16x20), Medium and can include the price or NFS (Not for Sale).
Why Sponsor PWAS?
Because you love the arts and want to be a part of the team too! Check out the PWAS Website for our sponsors at https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/
What You May Not Know About an Art Group
Again, art groups are made up of everyday people like you and me. People become involved for many different reasons, and that is all well and good. Some join to try to sell their art. Some join for the socialization and camaraderie of being in a like-minded group of people. But it does take all of us to make it a great and growing art group. When they say it takes a village, that can go for art groups too.
Learn more about what art groups do in these articles:
Getting Involved in Your Local Art Group - The Benefits of Joining an Art Group
Non-Profit Art Group Committees - Where might you fit into your area art group, and see this link on Committees too.
Non-Profit Art Group Basics - Understanding the basics within an art group like fees and costs
PWAS Group - Something to Think About - Your Board Members
As with anything, you only get out of it what you put into it. And PWAS needs you, perhaps as much as you need PWAS. Join today.
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
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