Art Enables & the Founders Keeper Fund
Art Enables is a 501(c)3 nonprofit gallery and supported employment program for adult artists with disabilities in the Washington, DC area. Our mission is to offer artists with disabilities the opportunity, environment, materials and marketing support they need to succeed as professional artists. Program artists make 60% commissions from their artwork sales; the remaining 40% goes to framing and marketing costs. Program costs are not covered by art sales.
The FOUNDERS KEEPER FUND was created in 2012 by Art Enables' founder Joyce Muis Lowery. A
condition of joining Art Enables is that an artist be sponsored to help cover
program costs. While the Department of Disability or other service groups pay a fee-for-service many of our artists, more and more artists are losing their funding, either temporarily or permanently. Over 20% of our artists have no support for their work here. For example, day program placement isn't covered for people with persistent mental illness, although the need is great. Other artists have had their funding slashed because of moving from one jurisdiction to another, or because their support agency has gone out of business, leaving them stranded. That's why Joyce started the Founders Keeper Fund: to support unsponsored artists in the studio, so that no artist is turned away because of lost funding.
What This Funds
Here is where the $3500 will go for this campaign:
- Funding support for five artists working in the studio for a month. This covers art supplies, framing, photography, and all studio services provided by Art Enables.
- If we raise more than $3500, it will go towards providing more services for unfunded artists. Currently there is a waiting list for artists in the studio.
- All funds raised are fully tax-deductible and will go directly towards artist services. Your donation makes a difference!
Perks
Besides the perk of helping one of DC's most unique art organizations, you can also get:
- A thank you shout-out on our Facebook and Twitter pages
- Handmade "mini art" thank you card of original Art Enables artwork
- VIP invite to a donor preview for our exhibits
- "Highly Flattering Portrait" from our artists
- Coffee mug and artist coffee break invite
- Art Enables 2015 calendar
- Private four hour rental of our space for your reception or workshop
PLUS...our sincere thanks for your tax-deductible support!
Other Ways You Can Help
We love volunteers for our workshops and events and postcard mailers! Contact the studio to find out about volunteering.
- Please help spread the word about our Founder's Keeper campaign! Facebook, Twitter, blog posts - it all helps our studio and artists.
- Contact the studio for art supply donations, or check our website for our Amazon wish list
- Come by for a visit and meet the artists - we love visitors!