ArtISability and Funding

My heart is too see artists with disabilities engaging in our community. ArtISability was designed as a Professional Development Program and yet to date very few professional artists have accessed our workshop program.  Some found my advertise misleading. Yet on nearly every piece of marketing the word, Professional was printed.

The definition of a professional is a person who makes money or an income. I am determine to raise the bar. ArtISability was founded on arts funding. Our pilot ran successfully in 2014 with all six participants completing all sessions.  Our workshop programs have been funded to date through the arts sector funding, sponsorships, fundraising and one Community Event Grant.

We are hoping to develop an artist network in Ipswich, which is kick started by arts funding for our 2017 Mentorship Program.  Professional artists being mentored by professional artists. While artists with disability face additional challenges, their is no reason to lower the bar of sink to help them feel good.

If not applications are received from artists living with disability who are working in the arts, then all places will go to other artists. I am hoping to submit an application to the arts council of Australia. I am looking for cream.

I not prepare to submit CV of untrained artists.  The quality of the application is based on the participants qualifications,  I am asking for money for their professional development, not to employ artists. This is the reverse of how we have worked to date.

Ipswich currently has no professional development opportunities full stop!  So I am more than happy to have the places go to the best applicants.  I myself play and compete at the same level as every artist.  That is my standard for all.  No free rides.

However artists like myself do face barriers in the production and sale of our work.  For me these a few places I can't access. However for others its accessing technology and information and needing materials and courses presented in other formats.  I succeed because I am pig headed, hard working and refuse to accept being labelled as disable.  Sorry! I am one of the most capable people I know.

I will lower barriers that prevent access by buying ramps and provide information through volunteering my time. But its up to other artists to step up.  Reading and writing are not required to make high level art. Art skills are!

So again I launch my fundraising 2016 Campaign. Most funding bodies want to see I am not seeing them as my soul income.  Most will not fund a 100% of a project.  Basically I am $500 short of keeping my door open, that will cover our insurance.

So I am in the process of up loading Christmas Cards we made at ArtISabiliy to my Etsy.  I am now 250 cards sales away from my target, yep Christmas cards are all $2 each!

If I sell more I can address more access issues. 

Here's a few examples:-

click here to shop!