Maine Artist Collective Project
Location: Portland, Constellation Gallery
Project Team: David A. Marshall, Sarah Haywood, Joanne Fitzpatrick, Ivett Toth, Saul Fontenot-Amedee, and Whitley Newman.
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Maine-Artist-Collective
The mission of the Maine Artist Collective is to connect the public with Maine artists and support development by providing exhibition and studio space, education, and professional workshops. The Maine Artist Collective is a non-profit membership organization that is self-governed through a democratic structure of leadership. Members gain exposure through our website, exhibit in group shows, rent affordable studio space, take classes at discounted rates, improve business skills through professional development workshops, and earn money and experience through instructing classes and selling art. The programs are directed to assist young artists in facing the educational and economic challenges inherent to our generation.
How are you making Maine a better place for young people?
The Maine Artist Collective is making Maine a better place for young people by connecting the public with Maine artists and supporting the development of artists. Art is an expression of society. Through art we are able to reach for deeper meaning into community challenges. Connecting the public to Maine artists is a priority of the Maine Artist Collective. Accessible, open format art studios are integrated into Constellation Gallery to allow the public to observe the creative process. Reaching a broader audience is achieved through our user-friendly, social networking style website.
Supporting the development of artists is critical to the mission of the Maine Artist Collective. Providing exhibition and studio space, education, and professional workshops is our strategy for supporting Maine artists. Exposure is critical for the growth of artists and the exhibition and affordable studio spaces at Constellation Gallery bring our artists in contact with thousands of visitors a year and supports artists financially through sales. Education builds skills and knowledge and the classes offered by the Maine Artist Collective are affordable and inspiring. Instructional classes give artists experience and financial support. Business skills are imperative for artists today and our professional workshops focus on the practical aspects needed for artistic success.
Maine is a better place for young people due to the mission of the Maine Artist Collective to connect the public with Maine artists and supporting the development of artists. Young people in Maine can learn, grow culturally, and focus on our societal challenges by interacting with Maine art and artists. Resources offered by the Maine Artist Collective help young artists develop and become evolved community activists.
What challenges in your community are you addressing?
The Maine Artist Collective is addressing the educational and economic challenges facing young people in Maine through programs. Classes and workshops are offered at reasonable prices to address the high cost of education. Affordable studio spaces are available at Constellation Gallery to counter expensive market rate studios. Group art shows are regularly hosted at Constellation Gallery to help emerging artists gain exposure and to sell art. Professional web exposure is provided to our artists without the start-up and maintenance costs necessary in the developing of websites. Instructing art classes is a great way for artists to gain experience and earn money. Professional development workshops help artists with the technical challenges of running businesses. Educational and economic challenges confront our generation and the work of the Maine Artist Collective is focused on giving young people the skills and societal knowledge to reach our goals.
Who will benefit from your idea? How will people access and learn about the work you are doing?
A full spectrum of people will benefit from the programs of the Maine Artist Collective. Emerging artists,
professional artists, students, colleges, patrons, and non-profit organizations are the primary groups that will benefit. People will access and learn about the work we are doing through our website, Facebook page, email newsletter, newspaper listings, or by visiting Constellation Gallery.
What major success would you like to see at the end or apex of your project?
The major success for the Maine Artist Collective is to develop into a sustainable organization with a serious track record of assisting young artists in developing the professional skills needed to succeed in the global economy. Growing our membership to include hundreds of artists and community members will show our strength and reach across the State of Maine The success of the Maine Artist Collective will be measured by the development of our artist members and the lasting impact that we collectively have on the culture and future of Maine.
Project Partners: Robin Farrin, Diana Ellis, Anthony Marino, Steve Roberts, Jos Ruks, Liz Bieber, Roy Meredith, Anastasia Weigle, Frank Gruber, and Tatia Dichiara.
Any thing else you’d like us to know?
The Maine Artist Collective is a non-profit organization. With the help of our 501c3 fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas, we can accept tax-deductible donations. We are registered with the IRS and the State of Maine. Gaining our own 501c3 status is a work in progress. On January 12, 2012 we formalized our organization during our first annual meeting by adopting bylaws and forming a board of directors. The bylaws of the Maine Artist Collective define us as a democratically structured, membership based organization with the charitable mission to educate and assist low-income artists.
