THE Charleston Artist Guild (CAG) was founded well over a half-century ago by a small group of local artists—including Anne Worsham Richardson, Alfred Heber Hutty and Elizabeth O’Neill Verner—who sought a way not only to display their own works, but to network with other artists in the city and to become more involved with the community. Today, more than 70 artists are featured in the extensive gallery, now at 160 East Bay St., all of whom contribute to the organization’s outreach programs. A nonprofit organization, CAG is constantly busy fulfilling the wishes of its founders. To that end, the Guild works with Arts for Alzheimer’s, provides awards for its high school scholarship program, and also works with Extraordinary Arts and Pattison’s Academy.

Every September new exhibit-ing members are juried into the gallery. September is also when CAG’s monthly meetings with art demonstrations—always open to the public—resume. The Guild now has nearly 700 members, many of whom will be featured at CAG’s annual Members’ Exhibition.