“Art is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”
— Joe Miller
The Joe Miller Memorial
Arts in Education Scholarship
The Watercolor Society of North Carolina (WSNC) is proud to announce that our Arts in Education Scholarship has been renamed in honor of Joe Miller and Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, in tribute to Joe’s enduring friendship and the incredible support he, his family, and the staff at Cheap Joe’s have given to WSNC and to the state of North Carolina.
From 2007 to 2024, through a generous partnership with Cheap Joe’s, WSNC awarded annual grants to public middle and high school art teachers in the region hosting our Annual Exhibition. These grants, along with a scholarship for our annual workshop, helped strengthen art education across the state and inspired countless young artists and educators.
In 2025 and beyond, WSNC continues this mission by awarding the Joe Miller Arts in Education Scholarship to one graduating senior in each of WSNC’s three regions—Eastern, Central, and Western. This scholarship honors Joe’s legacy as an artist, entrepreneur, and tireless advocate for creativity, education, and community.
We are honored to continues his legacy through this scholarship, supporting the next generation of North Carolina artists as they begin their creative journey.
About Joe Miller
(1939–2023)
Joe Miller was an artist, entrepreneur, and fierce believer in the power of creativity. He founded Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff in Boone, North Carolina—transforming a small-town pharmacy into one of the country’s most beloved art supply companies.
Joe was more than a business owner—he was a mentor, a teacher, and a champion of art education. Through his support of Brushes for Vincent, countless teacher grants, and decades of partnership with WSNC, he helped bring art into classrooms and hearts across North Carolina.
Joe’s passion and dedication to the art world earned him numerous accolades and awards - his highest honors being the recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, American Watercolor Society Dolphin Medal, North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine, and NWS Arts and Humanities Award for his contributions to his extremely broad community.