Art for the community.
A community for artists.
TAG — the Tappahannock Artists' Guild and Tappahannock Art Gallery — has grown from a small group of local painters into a true community art center, offering exhibits, education, and a working retail gallery to Essex County and every visitor who wanders in off Prince Street.
A non-profit art center on Tappahannock's Main Street, run entirely by the artists who fill it.
INSIDE 200 PRINCE STREET
Two Galleries, One Building
TAG maintains two distinct exhibition spaces under one roof, each on its own rotation.
Guild Artists Gallery
The permanent home for TAG's member artists, rotating quarterly across oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, sculpture, stained glass, photography, fiber arts, woodturning, and mosaic work — much of it drawn straight from the rivers, marshes, and history of the Northern Neck.
Special Exhibits Gallery
A rotating spotlight on invited artists from beyond the guild, refreshed monthly, bringing outside perspectives and new mediums into conversation with the region's own working artists.
OUR MISSION & VISION
The mission of TAG is to build and maintain a community art center, to promote artists and their work, and to offer opportunities for art education, cultural enrichment, and creative expression to all citizens and visitors by sharing and celebrating diverse talents, traditions, and lifestyles.
YEAR ROUND PROGRAMMING
What TAG runs, beyond the walls
Exhibits are only part of it — TAG fills the calendar with classes, community events, and a marquee outdoor painting event.
Curated Exhibits
Quarterly member shows and monthly invited-artist exhibits keep both galleries in constant rotation.
Interactive Art Classes
Professional local instructors lead hands-on sessions in everything from colored pencil to stained glass and mosaic.
KidzArt at the Farmers Market
Free, drop-in children's art activities every third Saturday, April through November, alongside the Tappahannock Farmers' Market.
Annual Plein Air Event
Painters from across the country descend on Essex County for a weekend of outdoor painting along the Rappahannock.
Seasonal Art Camps
A week-long summer camp for ages 8–18 and other seasonal sessions keep young artists busy year-round.
Sip & Dip Evenings
An evening series for grown-ups to discover a hidden talent, guided by a local instructor — and appropriate refreshment.
GOVERNANCE
Who runs TAG?
An all-volunteer board and a single staff role keep the guild's programming and finances on track.
Executive Director, Paige Conner Totaro
Oversees day-to-day operations, programming, and the gallery's relationship with the wider Tappahannock community.
Paige Conner Totaro is the Executive Director of the Tappahannock Art Gallery (TAG) in Tappahannock, Virginia, where she leads the organization's mission to promote the arts, support regional artists, and expand access to arts education throughout the Northern Neck. In her role, she oversees exhibitions, community partnerships, educational programming, fundraising, and strategic initiatives that strengthen TAG's impact as a cultural and creative hub.
An entrepreneur, writer, and community advocate, Paige brings a diverse professional background spanning nonprofit leadership, business management, travel, and communications. She is also Business Manager for Unquote Travel and has written extensively on travel, culture, and entrepreneurship. Her lifelong passion for exploring cultures has shaped her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to building meaningful connections through the arts.
Under Paige's leadership, TAG has expanded its exhibition schedule, increased arts programming for children and adults, and developed community-centered events that encourage creativity while supporting downtown Tappahannock's cultural and economic vitality. She is dedicated to making the arts welcoming and accessible to all, believing that creativity enriches communities, inspires lifelong learning, and brings people together.
TAG is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected from the guild's membership, chaired by Julie Strock. Board members set policy, approve programming and budgets, and represent the guild's interests to the town and to Essex County.
TAG Governing Bodies
2026 Board of Directors
Julie Strock, Chair
Jane Barnes
Victor Burrell
Patricia Gallagher
Bess Haile, At-Large
Kendall Rose
Executive Committee
Barbara Woodward • Treasurer
Bess Haile • Secretary
Liz Harper • Membership
Vicki Owen • Operations
Terri Raines • Marketing
Joyce Crown-Wilkins • Education
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, kept running by its community.
A non-profit art center on Tappahannock's Main Street, run entirely by the artists who fill it.
TAG — the Tappahannock Artists' Guild and Tappahannock Art Gallery — has grown from a small group of local painters into a true community art center, offering exhibits, education, and a working retail gallery to Essex County and every visitor who wanders in off Prince Street.