What is ARTWORKING?
ARTWORKING is a variety of services available to adults with developmental disabilities that wish to pursue a career in the visual arts. The ARTWORKING program is composed of three primary components:
ARTworking Studio
ARTworking Studio will provide specialized professional training and support in the area of visual arts for people with cognitive disabilities. The principal of such a studio was pioneered in the United States more than 30 years ago by Florence Ludins-Katz and Elias Katz, and has since inspired many successful, vocationally-oriented art programs across the country. ARTworking Studio will draw on components of many existing programs, while also being uniquely designed to meet the needs of the actual artists that make use of the Studio.
The ARTworking Studio will:
Provide professional quality art training for adults with disabilities.
Secure professional opportunities for artists with disabilities.
Maximize artists’ ability to enter the mainstream art community as trained professionals.
Create a support system wherein participating artists have guaranteed opportunities to exercise control and authority over their environment.
Develop leadership opportunities for people with disabilities.
ARTworking Studio’s Seven Essential Components:
Work environment: A studio facility that provides an area for each artist to work in and the materials to make their own art.
Mentorship: Experienced, working artists on staff to give training, support and feedback to the participants, in order to promote growth in both art skills and artistic vision.
Artistic growth: Participating artists will develop their ability to express their vision to others through education, practice, reflection and feedback.
Professional development: Finding prospects for participants to show and sell their work and supporting them in the preparation of their work for such occasions.
Participant direction: Artists working in the studio will have guaranteed opportunities to shape and change the policies and procedures governing the operation of the program.
Integration: Participants will have opportunities to enter the community as art professionals and to be seen by non-disabled peers and the community as a whole, as artists, first and foremost. Additionally ARTworking Studio will create and inclusive and non-segregated environment by creating opportunities for non-affiliated artists and other community members to participate in ARTworking sponsored workshops and events and to have access to some of ARTworking’s resources in exchange for donations and volunteer time.
Leadership: Participating artists will have opportunities to teach, lead and intentionally inspire others. Program staff will develop opportunities for participating artists to become part of various professional organizations and associations relevant to art as well as opportunities to serve as guest speakers, project facilitators and educators for outside organizations and at special events. Additionally, a number of paid positions will be created within ARTworking Studio’s for participating artists based on individual skills and abilities.
Hourly rates for participation in ARTworking Studio are pending.
ARTworking staff will be available on a fee basis to consult with non-affiliated artists and their support teams. ARTworking staff can offer valuable insights to artists and support teams that may need access to experience and expertise in this area. Among other things, ARTworking staff can evaluate support strategies and help locate needed resources, materials and additional supports. By utilizing the ARTworking Consultation resource artists may be able to increase the efficiency of their support programs without having to make changes within their support teams. Rates are available upon request.
ARTworking may be available to provide discreet short-term services for artists and support teams that might otherwise be unavailable. One example of this might be coordinating professional art opportunities for groups and individuals, such as participating in art fairs. In this example, ARTworking might provide transportation, support staff, cash handling assistance, bookkeeping and profit distribution or other supports as appropriate or necessary. Other options might involve short-term one to one skill development or other supports as determined by an artist and their support team. Rates and expenses will be calculated based on the supports and resources required.
For more information on any of the above services, please contact Lance Owens using the above information.
ARTworking may also be available to provide supports to artists working independently in their own studio or home. Please contact ARTworking to find out more about specialized individual support options.
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