CALL FOR VISUAL ARTISTS (ALL MEDIUMS) TO FORM THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER COMMITTEE

FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 8, 2021 6PM

About Arts for Lawrence
Arts for Lawrence (AFL) is a nonprofit arts organization in Lawrence, an excluded city in Marion county’s northeast quadrant of Indianapolis. In partnership with the City of Lawrence, and funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc., AFL is creating the Fort Ben Cultural Campus, a vibrant arts destination with public programming in performing, visual, and literary arts. The Fort Ben Cultural Campus will open in May 2021 and includes the historic Theater at the Fort, a Cultural Plaza with interactive artwork and amphitheater, and the former Fort Harrison Communications Building repurposed as the Visual Arts Center. Arts for Lawrence’s mission is to connect arts and community to inspire everyone every day. At AFL, we believe that all community members deserve to experience the arts. AFL breaks barriers of inequality to ensure access for all.

About the Visual Arts Center
The Visual Arts Center is approximately 3,000 square feet over three levels with handicap access. The main level is a public art gallery. The upper level holds an art classroom and a resident artist studio. The basement level holds a ceramics studio to be managed by a second resident artist. The Visual Arts Center’s operations plan anticipates leadership by a volunteer Visual Arts Center Committee and AFL staff.

Visual Arts Center Classes
The Visual Arts Center will host affordable art classes in an array of mediums taught by local artists. Members of the Visual Arts Center Committee will be considered first for teaching staff. Teaching staff are compensated by a split revenue plan, with AFL providing supplies. (Depending on the medium, some supplies may be considered cost added to students’ fees.) Classes of interest include:
• Ceramics
• Digital illustration and/or animation
• Glass mosaics
• Painting/Drawing
• Youth, Teen, and Toddler classes
• Craft workshops
• Other

Visual Arts Center Gallery
The Visual Arts Center Gallery is a small intimate space of ~700 square feet. Gallery walls are portable, and can be arranged differently dependent on the artwork exhibited. The Gallery is expected to host eleven one-month shows per year with openings falling mid-month and alternating between community shows and individual artists’ shows. Members of the Visual Arts Center Committee will be considered first for individual artists’ shows.

Committee Member responsibilities
The Visual Arts Center Committee (VACC) will be a formal committee under the umbrella of Arts for Lawrence. Members of the VACC are expected to uphold the Mission and Core Values of Arts for Lawrence, elect a chairperson for the committee (annually), sign a Conflict-of-Interest policy, attend a minimum of 80% of monthly meetings and accomplish the goals below by scheduling themselves or enlisting volunteers to assist. The VACC is supported by AFL staff and is provided resources in funds and supplies.

Committee Goals
• Solicit and vet artists for classes and gallery shows
• Circulate Call to Artists for community exhibitions and jury community submissions
• Oversee and volunteer for the installation and tear down of gallery shows
• Volunteer at Gallery openings
• Circulate art class registration information
• Assist with ArtMob © activities
• Brainstorm other arts activities for the Lawrence community

Selection Process & Notification
Please send inquiries by email to info@artsforlawrence.org
Use Subject line: VACC membership inquiry
You do not need to be a working artist to be a member of this committee.
Please send the following information:
• Name
• Email
• Phone
• Mailing address
• Resident of City of Lawrence? (yes/no)
• If a working artist, what is your medium?
• Are you interested in Teaching? Exhibiting your art? Becoming a Resident Artist? Other? List all that apply
• Demographics (optional, but it sure does help us with our reporting) Age, Sex, Race, Veteran or Military? Disabled? Low income?

Mark your calendar for the introduction meeting THURSDAY APRIL 8, 2021 6PM at THEATER at the FORT, 8920 Otis Ave. Lawrence 46216
(includes possible tour of the Visual Arts Center)