Inducting Friends of ArtISability . . .

Friends Of ArtISability 

Are a group of individuals or local community organisations who have invested in the work of ArtISability in one way or another. They play a vital role in building the sustainability of the ArtISability program in Ipswich and beyond.

ALARA Queensland continues to provide accessible venues
which allows artists with disabilities to continue to develop new skills.

  

The ALARA community continues to collaborative and supports the ongoing work of ArtISability in the Ipswich Community through providing a modern accessible venue where artists can come together, connect and grow.

 Judith Baker was the first Ipswich community member to join the ArtISability Family and played an essential role in the development of the program. 

Judith is a local Ipswich artist living with disability herself she knows first hand the barriers artists with disability face in building their visual arts practice.

When asked how she thought her disability affected her career, Judy shared the following . . . 

"One my artwork is hanging on a art gallery wall my disability becomes invisible."

Judy continues to be a mentor  to our artists and is keen to help expand the ArtISability program into the Lockey Valley region in 2016.

   

Meet the Tully family in 2012 I meet the Tully's and volunteered with Disability Community Awareness as I developed the ArtISability Program. Sometime later I meet their son Nick - an indigenous artists with a disability.

  

Nick completed our 2014 Pilot Program and has worked hard to established himself as an artists in the Ipswich community. Including participating in our Disability Action Week Unmasked Art Exhibition, hosted by Ipswich Arttime Supplies, Drawing Point Gallery. 

Our Stepping Stone artists will be again working towards an art exhibition to celebrate Disability Action Week hosted by the Ipswich City Council Ipswich Library.

Family members of artists who completed our pilot program have continued to support the ArtISability program at a number of community events during 2014. Like James and Erica. 

James is a gifted artist and made in debut at the 2014 Ipswich Show winning first prize in the ceramics. Both Erica and James have worked hard to promote the ArtISability Program and raise funds to address the access needs of artists with disability in the Ipswich Region.

Erica has also assisted Debbie our Manager in the office with administration skills. While  James will be participating in our 2015 Community Connections Program to encourage other artists with disability as they begin their journey. 

As our Community Connections Workshops aims to build an inclusive community for all artists in the Ipswich Community we hope the introduction of Friends of ArtISability will embrace connections among those wanting to support the growth of the arts in Ipswich.

Turning the Earth Studios
Telephone 0417434843

Cynthia join us in 2014 as a teacher support for our sculpture group and we were able to access her firing services. Allowing us to give professional finishes to their artwork. One of our students went on to develop his skills by taking classes with Cynthia at her studio. Cynthia has since ran ArtISability Workshops for us. 

We are hoping people will join our network for all sorts of reasons including making friends with others who enjoy making art and wanting to contribute to the development of artists living with disability and mental illness.

Our friend Silvia and 2015 Art Exhibition Coordinator

Cynthia was able to support Silvia in the running of the sculpture during our pilot program. Silvia has also worked with Access Arts Artist and supported on artists to host his first solo exhibition in Brisbane.

Access Arts has supported ArtISability in a number of ways since concept development. Without the support of Access Arts it would been a lot more difficult for ArtISability to get off the group. ArtISability hopes Access Arts will partner again with us in the future.

As you can see there are many reasons to become one of our friends . . .

1. Making friends
2. Developing your networks.
3. Free participation in our workshops and community events.
4. Marketing your own small business - word of month is still the most powerful marketing tool.
5. We're happy to plug you and you skills in newsletters facebook and website. 

 There a no joining fees or requirements or even meetings simply let us know how you can support us and we'll acknowledge your friendship, here's a few suggestions. 

1. Assist with marketing by handing out flyers.
2. Help with printing costs by receiving them by pdf to email or print to give your networks.
3. Encourage people to participate in our workshops, visit our exhibitions and buy the work of our artists.
4. Offer to volunteer by distributing flyers, supporting and artists with a disability to access information or fill in paper work.
5. Assist with fundraising
6. Volunteer in our office.  

We would love you to become a friend of ArtISability!