op:coop

Saranac Art Projects

http://www.saranacartprojects.com

How do you come together and share a resource?

At Saranac Art Projects our resource is a passion for art and community, and with our cooperative spirit we come together to share this resource. Being the only dedicated contemporary art gallery in Spokane, WA, we have brought together artists throughout the region in order to build a community around our passion. Every month members of the coop have the opportunity to exhibit new work, bringing friends, piers, and newcomers into our gallery. Membership submissions are open to all, and with our coop nearly a year old we have built a thriving community. This allows us to reach out.

As a non-profit we are dedicated to community service and outreach, developing programs to bring art to disadvantaged individuals. In the past we have completed art projects at Children’s Hospital. We are currently developing a program to work with Center Pointe, an education center for disabled individuals. In addition to our service minded programming, for the coming year we are organizing a monthly lecture series. With attendance open to all we hope to strengthen the culture and community at our coop. Our passion has created a community dedicated to art and outreach, and we look forward to continuing our mission.

How would your group use the award money?

All support is used to continue programming and further the goals of Saranac Art Projects. Many of the organizations we work with have limited funding for art materials and instruction. We have volunteered before and run out of paper before completing an art project! We would like to ensure the availability of basic supplies and materials for all the groups that we work with.

We also wish to ensure that everyone is able to become a member of Saranac Art Projects. Membership responsibilities include paying monthly dues to cover basic costs, and with to the current economy some members have a hard time contributing. We hope to create a scholarship to overcome hardship and guarantee that anyone can participate.

Lastly, public outreach and our gallery space are essential to our organization. Without access to the space we currently occupy we would not be able to create and nurture our community. Access to additional funding that can be used for public outreach programs and maintaining our gallery will enable us bring art to a larger audience and make a stronger cultural impact.