The public is invited to attend Northwest's winter art sale and Empty Cups event Dec. 5-6. Patrons may purchase handmade ceramics, drawings, paintings, and prints created by Northwest art students. (Northwest Missouri State University photo)

Northwest Missouri State University’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts will host its winter art sale Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6, in conjunction with its annual Empty Cups event.

“Each of these events helps us connect with the community, gets great, affordable, handmade art in someone’s hands and homes, and it gives our students a profession-based learning experience in that they are involved in every step of the process,” Veronica Watkins, an assistant professor of art, said.

Empty Cups is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union. The two-day Empty Cups event each winter and spring invites the Northwest community to purchase a handmade ceramic cup.

A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Maryville Ministry Center and Northwest’s Bearcat Food Pantry. 

The art sale is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days in the foyer of the Fire Arts Building, located south of the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building, and features a variety of art created by students. Patrons will find a variety of pottery, cups, bowls and lidded jars as well as small edition prints.

Proceeds from the art sale help students pay for materials and provide funding for special projects that support the art program at Northwest.

For more information about Empty Cups or the art sale, contact Watkins at watkins@nwmissouri.edu.