What a year it has been! Raise a glass with us as we celebrate transformative growth and take a BOLD LEAP FORWARD!
Collar Works plays a critical role in the arts ecosystem as an inclusive and supportive organization, expanding regional and national views in contemporary art through its innovative and dynamic exhibition and residency programming. Since 2009, Collar Works has been committed to supporting emerging and underrepresented artists in creating and exhibiting profound and provocative new works of contemporary art.
YOUR SUPPORT HELPS US CONTINUE TO:
•Provide a springboard for emerging and underrepresented artists to experiment, take creative risks, and gain professional opportunities they can build upon.
•Center artist equity in all we do. We are for artists by artists.
•Ignite meaningful dialogue and authentically transform cultural communities by bringing new voices to the forefront.
•Create a platform for contemporary art to engage diverse audiences through culturally and socially relevant works that challenge us. This fosters new ways of seeing and understanding the world around us.
•Encourage artists to overcome adversity to achieve success. Our goal has always been to give radically inclusive opportunities for artistic growth that centers on wellness and care.
•Remove financial barriers to participation, commit to fair pay, and generate economic mobility in accessible ways. We provide artist stipends in our solo, two-to-four-person exhibitions and residency program, as well as for artist talks, lectures, and workshops that comply with W.A.G.E. We commit to hiring artists and paying fairly for their time and talents. This year we’ve distributed stipends and paid over $45,000 to artists!
•Collaborate with like-minded peer organizations who share in our mission and values. This year we supported the artistic work of and collaborated with Troy Foundry Theatre, Artist/Mother Podcast, In Our Own Voices, The Poetry Project, Ma’s House, Upstate Book Club, Pioneers Go East, RPI, I WAS HERE, a film by Noelle Gentile, and more!
•Support artists by giving 100% of proceeds back to artists and the community. Artists in our main gallery receive 100% of sales, and artists in Flat Files and Object Lounge share 25% of their proceeds with a nonprofit committed to social justice, racial equity, and human rights each year. This past year, Collar Works artists raised over $1,000 for In Our Own Voices. Sharing resources is vital to our community.
•Respond to the ever-changing and growing needs of artists by creating program opportunities to meet those needs. In 2023 we will launch an affordable artist studio rental program in the Capital Region. We can’t wait to share details with you.
•Sustain. We Need Your Help. Our organization has grown 83%, and the demand for our programs and services has soared. We do all this incredible work with a small team of part-time staff and modest resources. In 2023, we aim to continue our positive momentum to increase our capacity and resources for artists, build programs, and add full-time staff. Securing our organizational assets and sustaining our ability to serve artists is essential!
Looking back on 2022, it was a year full of change, growth, and progress here at Collar Works. We are excited to channel this energy to continue to grow and expand in 2023!
In 2022, we supported over 300 artists through exhibitions programming in our Main Gallery, the Flat Files, and Object Lounge.
The artists of “Painting at Night,” our summer open call show in collaboration with the Artist/Mother podcast, guest curated by Judith Braun.
Our Elizabeth Murray Artist Residency continued to be a fully-supportive, no-cost-to-artists and families program. The demand for our program is very high. This year we received almost a record-breaking 1,000 applications for our summer season! We are working to expand our programming year-round to meet this incredible need and serve more significant numbers of artists!
2022’s artist parents and their families at EMAR!
In 2022 we adopted FLOCKart, a mobile artist residency + gallery program bringing emerging, underrepresented, and mid-career artists into urban and rural communities to learn, create, experiment, and connect in an inclusive and immersive environment.
Artist Oba Ro Ene at FLOCKart at its first and current location, Woodland Hill Montessori. FLOCKart will partner with South End Children’s Cafe in 2023/2024.
Art has the power to transform communities in authentic ways. We boldly advocate for and champion artists, removing barriers to opportunities. We continuously work on creative solutions to fill voids in the region that will add to the vibrancy of our communities and make creative careers viable.
Collar Works doesn’t exist without your support! We need your help to accomplish the big plans we have for 2023! We are proud to announce that we have embarked on a significant organizational growth initiative. We can’t wait to share ALL we have worked toward with you soon!
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS!
