Arts Unbound and Arts Access Receive Community Employment Grant from Kessler Foundation

ORANGE, N.J. - Nov. 9, 2015 - PRLog -- Contact Person:

Celene Ryan, Director of Marketing & Artist Development

Arts Unbound, Inc

542/544 Freeman Street

Orange, NJ 07050

973-675-2787

Director Line: (973) 475-8446

cryan@artsunbound.org

Arts Unbound and Arts Access Receive Community Employment Grant from Kessler Foundation

ORANGE, NJ – Arts Unbound and The Matheny Medical and Educational Center’s Arts Access Program has been awarded a Kessler Foundation Community Employment Grant of $100,000 to launch a unique vocational art project. Arts Unbound will partner with Arts Access, bringing together these two leaders in the realm of arts and disability to form Art Garden CSA. This CSA (community-supported art) project aims to connect artists with disabilities with art buyers in a way that has never before been attempted with this population.

Ten artists will be selected and commissioned to create original artwork that is unique to the Art Garden CSA. These works will then be distributed at three live pickup events around the state to anyone who buys one of the 25 available “shares.” At these pickup events, the shareholders will have the opportunity to meet the selected artists and see what awaits them in their box of limited edition art. The artists will work with the Art Garden team to learn and participate in important vocational practices such as blogging, thank you letters, self-promotion, relationship building, and many other entrepreneurial activities that are key to becoming a professional artist.

“We are so thankful to Kessler for supporting the Art Garden project,” said Eileen Murray, director of the Arts Access Program. “I’ve seen these artists work tirelessly to perfect their craft, and I’m so excited to see them move into careers as artistic professionals.” Margaret Mikkelsen, executive director of Arts Unbound, said, “With popularity spiking and community-supported art projects popping up all over the country, we are thrilled to launch Art Garden, which will be the first to exclusively represent artists with disabilities working within the state of New Jersey.”

A recent Kessler-led national study revealed that 68% of people with disabilities are striving to find work. Through its Community Employment Grant Program, Kessler Foundation funds non-traditional solutions that increase employment outcomes for citizens with disabilities. The arts fill this role by allowing individuals with disabilities to be self-employed and work on their own schedules. The Kessler Foundation is a public charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Arts Unbound is dedicated to the artistic achievement of people living with disabilities and seniors. They provide visual arts education and professional development to help emerging artists compete on the retail market. By promoting the work of artists with disabilities and seniors, they center their art-making rather than any impairments and by doing so challenge the stigma associated with disability and aging. Matheny is a special hospital and educational facility in Peapack for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. Arts Access is a unique fine arts program where individuals with disabilities can fully express themselves in the creative arts. Both organizations have been at the forefront of offering professional development opportunities for artists with disabilities through licensing and original artwork sales. The Art Garden CSA will launch early next year, and shares will be available for purchase in November 2015.