It was the year 2005 and there was something missing in downtown Augusta. The Porter Fleming Foundation took it upon themselves to find and fill that hole. One quirky name and a non-profit status later, Westobou was born.

The Porter Fleming Foundation was created by Berry Fleming, a renowned author and painter, to administer grants and fellowships to organizations and individuals who demonstrate excellence in education, literature, art, science, history, music and culture. Westobou was a special creation of the Foundation after realizing the lack of contemporary art in Augusta’s River Region. Fun fact, the name pays homage to the Savannah River formerly named Westobou by the Westo Natives. What started out as a pop-up Festival has evolved into a season of events and exhibitions in our year-round Gallery space on Broad Street. Our mission is to support artists and their ideas to create engaging, creative and thought-provoking artistic experiences.

To fulfill our mission, we need you. We need supporters that understand the value of art and its impact on our community. Westobou was created to fill a gap and your support will help keep it around for years to come. You can become a member, volunteer or donate but most importantly, come out and enjoy what we have to offer. Experience a poem written by a giant fox or hear sounds from a beatbox saxophonist. Dine with an artist in a unique venue or visit our open studios for a behind the scenes look. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new because we exist to share these experiences with you.