ABOUT ANN CROUCH
Ann Crouch Original
Local artist Ann Crouch started managing Sunset Art Center following the death of her husband, C.W. Crouch, in 2001, who had purchased the building nine years prior.
Ann wanted to fulfill her lifelong dream of housing a one-of-a-kind art facility for area residents so her first step was to open Panhandle Art Center, also known as PAC.
PAC was comprised of a co-op of artists who shared space, collectively hung their art, networked, and hosted art shows for a small fee.
Later, to further enhance the center, Ann reached out to several local artists and offered them gallery space in the mall for a nominal fee.
Within five short days, Ann had rented all 15 available galleries and had to open up another wing of the building to accommodate the interested artists.
Then, in 2004, Ann fulfilled yet another dream with the grand opening of the Amarillo Art Institute, a nonprofit community art school providing classes in painting, clay, and fiber arts. Since then, the Institute has grown to include a wide variety of media forms and welcomed instructors from all over the world.
Through Amarillo Art Institute workshops, people from across the country have the opportunity to study with some of the finest artists in the world.
Visiting artists and customers traveling through the area are consistenly amazed at what one woman’s dreams have accomplished.
In 2017, Ann passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind a legacy of grand proportions to be carried out by the Crouch Foundation. Her vision continues to guide the expansion of programs and opportunities for the arts at Arts in the Sunset.
Thank you, Ann Crouch, for all you did for artist in our area.
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