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You've probably seen ArtPop's work, bold art on billboards, breathtaking upcycled fashion shows, and local artists elevated on a national scale. But this episode isn't about the spectacle. It's about the woman behind it.
In this episode of Ruby's Roundtable, Ruby shares the story of Wendy Hickey, Founder and Executive Director of ArtPop Street Gallery. The grassroots arts nonprofit born in Charlotte and built one dollar at a time.
Before ArtPop, Wendy worked in the marketing and advertising world with global brands like Budweiser and Coca-Cola. While she wasn't an artist herself, she spent years inside creative departments, learning how big brands are built and eventually realized those same strategies could empower local artists to build sustainable creative businesses.
Since launching ArtPop in 2013, Wendy has helped support over 500 local artists and connect creatives to more than $1 million in paid opportunities, all while keeping artists and community at the center of the work.
This episode explores:
- How ArtPop grew from a grassroots idea into a nationally recognized arts nonprofit
- The business mindset required to start and sustain a nonprofit
- Why adaptability, relationships, and trust matter more than scale
- The reality of funding cycles, grants, and donor-based work
- What it truly means to take responsibility for your dream
With ArtPop preparing for its 2026 upcycled fashion show, supported by a National Endowment for the Arts grant, Wendy continues to prove that Charlotte is and always has been an art city.
If you've ever asked yourself, IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
This episode is your answer.
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This is Ruby's Roundtable.
IF NOT YOU, WHO?
IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
