DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

ArtScribe Composition Studio Proposal

 

Dear Board Members,

 

    ArtScribe is a collaborative Composition Studio dedicated to helping artists and the community with the articulation and communication of innovative ideas. I, local artist Veronica Vale, founded ArtScribe after discovering a need amongst artists to learn how to successfully market their skills and talents through writing. Through my expansive studies in the visual arts field, I had the opportunity to encounter and collaborate with many talented and ambitious young artists. Despite the creativity of expression that exuded from these individuals, I was startled by the lack of marketing and communication skills that they possessed. These skills were sorely needed for the entrepreneurial-style jobs required of many freelance artists. Even artists seeking employment were left ill-equipped to properly market their artistic skills. Recognizing this need for written and communicative skills within the artistic community inspired my idea for a Composition Studio. The Composition Studio I envision will aim to help local artists and the community with articulating and communicating their artistic ideas, visions, and endeavors.

 

    ArtScribe will reside within the non-profit public arts center, ArtStudio, in the heart of Raleigh, NC. Raleigh's prominent art community continues to expand, making the task of finding businesses and corporations willing to sponsor ArtScribe less daunting. ArtStudio is already in connection with Jerry's Artarama, a local art store that has expressed a desire to contribute to our cause. Additionally, we have received funding from the Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh Arts Commission, North Carolina Council Arts, and United Arts Council. These generous companies have agreed to sponsor us as we endeavor to bring more clarity and success to the artistic community.

 

    ArtScribe has decided upon the title “Composition Studio” to comfort artists with familiarity and to allude to the welcoming, encouraging environment which we wish to foster. The word “composition” brings to mind the creation of art in all of its subsets, whether it be music, an artwork, or a piece of writing. In this sense, we remind our clients of the artistic process while referring specifically to the written word. The idea of a “studio” works in relation to our affiliated business, ArtStudio. ArtStudio is an arts center that houses three galleries and several floors of art studios. By applying the familiar word “studio,” we imply that ArtScribe will provide the same supportive and collaborative environment expected from art studios.

 

    The concepts of positivity and of collaboration are integral components of our composition studio. As our mission statement reads:

 

ArtScribe strives to inspire others to pursue their creative energies by assisting with the articulation and communication of innovative ideas. Our dedicated ArtScribe Collaborators are committed to facilitating a positive, welcoming environment for artists and the community to collaborate – an environment in which art and writing can converge and thrive. (ArtScribe)

 

The positive approach that we intend to take in directing our studio derives from our deep value for human empathy. In a Writing Lab Newsletter article from 2012, Nancy Effinger and Keri Fitzgerald reiterate the importance of empathy as expressed in Jeremy Rifkin's book The Empathic Civilization. In their article, Effinger and Fitzgerald include Rifkin's quote that, “[empathic skills] emphasize a non-judgmental orientation and tolerance of other perspectives [and encourage people] to live within the context of ambiguous realities where there are no simple formulas or answers, but only a constant search for shared meanings and common understandings” (Rifkin qtd in Effinger and Fitzgerald 12-13). Agreeing to this point, Effinger and Fitzerald elaborate on how “Rifkin could be describing a writing center tutorial, or more specifically an empathic writing center tutorial” (Effinger and Fitzgerald 13). This idea that empathy emphasizes the complexities of reality rather than a single, concise answer applies to our composition studio in that we aim to empathize with our clients as individuals and to understand that there is no single formula for success that applies to every session.

 

    This empathy is especially significant to our Raleigh community. While Raleigh contains a rich art community, affluence is not the sort of “rich” to which we refer. Unfortunately, poverty is also prevalent within North Carolina's capitol city. Many low-income families in Raleigh cannot afford the services that ArtStudio and ArtScribe provide. For this reason, ArtStudio has provided some of its community members from low-income homes with scholarships so that they may utilize the services offered. ArtStudio has kindly agreed to allow these scholarships to apply to services offered by our ArtScribe. Our scholarship clients often come from non-traditional backgrounds and their unique experiences may differ significantly from those of our ArtScribe/ArtStudio member clients. This difference enables us to truly utilize Rifkin's definition of empathy. We train our Collaborators to “emphasize a non-judgmental orientation and tolerance of other perspectives” so that we may facilitate the same positive and welcoming environment that we promise in our mission statement to every client (Rifkin qtd in Effinger and Fitzgerald 12).

 

    Collaboration is also a fundamental aspect of our studio. Our writing consultants are called “Collaborators” because we believe that this title promises a partnership of learning and sharing between both client and consultant. ArtScribe promotes sessions built upon collective ideas and shared communication rather than a hierarchical relationship comprised of an authoritative figure and a subordinate one. In this way, we are able to avoid what Paulo Freire refers to as a “banking system” in which the supposedly superior consultant deposits knowledge into the client, or “receptacle” (72). Our collaborative efforts do not merely apply to that of Collaborator and client but also between fellow Collaborators. We encourage open and positive communication between Collaborators so that they may ask one another “good questions, which allow for alternative possibilities” (Hall 3). This “encourage[s] tutors to collaborate with one another in order to make shared understandings” (Hall 3). These “shared understandings” relate back to Rifkin's call for empathy. Collaboration is a useful tool for many artists – a tool that we intend to utilize for our own purposes in our sessions and simultaneously work to remove the stigma attached to collaborative writing.

 

    To apply to be an ArtScribe Collaborator, one can email us at artscribe@gmail.com with a cover letter, resume, and contact information for two references. Upon determining qualification, ArtScribe will call candidates in for an interview. If accepted, all future Collaborators must undergo 1-2 weeks of training in Composition Studio Theory & Practice. Within this training period, future Collaborators will become well versed in Writing Center discourse, particularly including the writings of Andrea Lunsford, Stephen North, Paulo Freire, Jeff Brooks, and Irene Lurkis Clark. These theorists have exhibited ideology that ArtScribe wishes to exemplify.

 

    As of now, our ArtScribe staff consists of individuals within my personal network. These individuals have demonstrated dedication and passion to our cause; however, we are open to hiring more individuals as ArtScribe becomes more established. We intend to seek staff from more diverse backgrounds so as to mirror Raleigh's diverse population.

 

    Appointments for Collaboration sessions can be made online via our website or on a drop-in basis. We do not offer online sessions as we feel that they negate the spontaneous collaboration which we want to facilitate. This being said, we do take great care in maintaining a strong online presence. We believe in Jackie Grutsch McKinney's point in The Writing Lab Newsletter that, “we should design our online spaces with the same care, reflection, and theoretical understanding that we give to our physical ones” (McKinney). Therefore, our website, ArtScribe.weebly.com, and social media pages are conscientiously managed and maintained by our ArtScribe Graphic Designer, Director (myself), and Assistant Director.

 

    For our Collaboration services at ArtScribe, we charge a rate of $10 for ArtStudio members and $12 for nonmembers (with the exception of scholarship-based nonmembers) for each Collaboration session. As a non-profit organization, all of our proceeds go directly to our cause and not to benefit any owners. Unlike many writing centers, our composition studio is not located within a University; therefore, it does not receive any budgeting from a college institution. Without student tuitions funding our studio, we have found it necessary to charge a fee so that we may support ourselves. However, an hourlong session with a creative and knowledgeable Collaborator will certainly be worth the charge.

 

    Along with Collaboration sessions, ArtScribe holds events which further promote confidence and skill in the use of writing, especially in its relation to visual art. ArtScribe events vary from month to month and can be found under our Events tab on our website along with their dates and corresponding descriptions. This season's events include an Artist Statement Seminar, Marketing Maneuvers, Writing an Artist's Proposal, ArtCrawl, and Kidz Collaborate. Each of these events are free to the public and we rely upon the time and effort of our invaluable volunteers to help run our events. As we have a large membership community thanks to our partnership with ArtStudio, we are able to reach out to potential volunteers through this connection. As a non-profit organization, we consider ourselves to be both member-oriented and community-oriented. Reaching out to the community by means of these free events coincides with our commitment to the betterment of the Raleigh community

   

    In order to achieve our altruistic goals for ArtScribe, we appeal to this Board for financial assistance. We hope that you will consider our request for a $100,000 startup budget. If our proposal were to be granted, the startup funds would be allocated in the following manner:

 

    Renovation of an ArtStudio gallery would be our first priority so that we may have a location from which to hold sessions. ArtStudio has generously offered us this space; however, a few renovations would be necessary. We want to reinvigorate the gallery environment to accommodate our Composition Studio by incorporating computers, desks, seating, etc. We envision having one main desk towards the entrance into the former gallery, to be used as a service and welcome desk. The NC Council Arts has donated to us a $1,914 Marque Double Curved Reception Welcome Desk Station (OFM). It is at this front desk that clients would sign in for appointments.

 

    Aside from the main desk, ArtStudio will donate eight tables – five small, Regency 36 inch Mocha Walnut Round Tables which would be used for Collaboration sessions (Regency) and three long Scholar Craft Tables to house the of computers (Scholar). ArtStudio has a surplus of chairs in their supply rooms, so we would have plenty of seats for session tables; however, we would also like to provide various kinds of seating so as to create a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere. For this reason, ArtStudio has also provided us with two couches which would line the walls in a corner of the room designated for sessions of a more casual nature, such as brainstorming sessions. The two sofa couches are from the Cindy Crawford Home Bellingham collection in the colors of Indigo and Hydra (Cindy). These couches are estimated to cost around $588 a piece (Cindy). This corner would also house several bookshelves and pillows. ArtStudio is giving us a large Threshold Carson Bookshelf at around $79 and a smaller Threshold Carson bookshelf at around $62 in the color Espresso through Target.com (Bookcases). The shelves will be filled with academic books graciously donated to us by publishers for client and Collaborator use both during sessions and during employee training. Speckled throughout the room will be potted plants that have been donated to us by our staff members in an effort to add a freshness to the relaxing atmosphere.

 

    Additionally, original artworks created by the local artists from ArtStudio's artist studios will be hung on the walls. In this way, ArtScribe can help give back once again to our ArtStudio partners by advertising their own artists' work on our walls. Clients will be encouraged to walk around the ArtStudio grounds, meeting artists in their studios and gaining inspiration in the process.

 

    Perhaps our most essential donation from ArtStudio will be that of the computers along the back wall of our ArtScribe room. Being that Mac computers are often the computer of choice for many artists and graphic designers, ArtStudio has allowed us to use four of their 21.5 inch Mac computers (estimated at $1,299.00 each) (iMac). In the case that clients may be unfamiliar with, or perhaps uncomfortable with, using the Mac computers, ArtStudio will also donate two Dell Inspiron 3847 Desktop PCs (Desktop). Although we encourage clients to bring along their laptops to sessions, many of our clients do not have access to or cannot afford laptops. We want to accommodate all of our clients, so we consider the inclusion of these computers to be essential.

 

    Our staff members will be paid half of the proceeds made from Collaboration sessions in addition to their annual salary. The other half of the proceeds will go towards additional costs including the hosting of events. An estimated $13,500 a year will be given to each of our three Collaborators from our startup budget, and every annual budget thereafter (Tutor Salary). This annual income does not include the individual earnings from each session.

 

    Below we have charted out our sources of revenue, their corresponding donations, and our anticipated expenses:

 

Contributors

Donations

 

Jerry's Artarama

3,000

 

Visual Art Exchange

5,000

 

Raleigh Arts Commission

800

 

ArtStudio

15,000

 

North Carolina Council Arts

1000

 

United Arts Council

2,000

 

ArtStudio/ArtScribe Member Donations

22,000

 

Board Grant

100,000

 

Total Revenue

 

148,800

 

 

 

Item(s)

Cost

 

Director Salary

55,000

 

Assistant Director Salary

50,000

 

3 Part-time Collaborator Salaries

40,500

 

4 Mac Desktops (Donated by ArtStudio)

0

 

2 Dell PCs (Donated by ArtSudio)

0

 

2 Couches and 2 Bookshelves (Donated by ArtStudio)

0

 

Reception Desk (Donated by NC Council Arts)

0

 

5 Small, Rounded Tables (Donated by ArtStudio)

0

 

3 Long Computer Tables (Donated by ArtStudio)

0

 

Academic Books (Donated by Publishers)

0

 

Art Supplies (Donated by Jerry's Artarama)

0

 

Unexpected Costs

3,300

 

Total Expenses

 

148,800

 

    We sincerely thank the Board for considering our proposal and hope that our dream of inspiring local artists and the Raleigh community to pursue their creative energies by assisting with the articulation and communication of innovative ideas can be realized.

 

 

 

Our most heartfelt thank you,

 

 

 

ArtScribe

 

ArtScribe

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.