Purpose: To provide a space for 100% Disabled Veterans and disabled artists to exhibit their work in the community.
Non-profit: The Mid-South Artist Gallery is a non-profit gallery, 501-3c; our EIN is: 85-3163764; no member of the gallery receives a salary, no one is paid, all staff and artists donate their time.
Mission statement: Our mission is to open opportunities for Disabled Veterans, their families and local disabled artist and seniors to exhibit their work, to assist disabled artists in becoming registered artists locally and internationally, to assist the disabled artist in acquiring estimates, evaluations and presentations of their work both in the USA and Europe.
Our mission includes assisting the disabled veterans and artists in becoming a “LISTED” artist,. Locally, nationally, and internationally. To seek out opportunities for disabled veterans and disabled artist to exhibit at the Mid-South Artist Gallery, the Louvre, Paris, France; on social media at no cost. Our mission is to provide a space for disabled veterans and disabled artists of all ages, races, and levels of talent to exhibit their work without the high cost of hanging fees, on-line fees, listing fees, admin fees, advertisement and newspaper fees. Our mission is to educate and assist artists (disabled veterans) in overcoming income limitations by providing artists with free supplies, paint, canvas, drawing materials so that they can focus on the creation process rather than focusing on physical and mental limitations and the negative impacts of their life or military service. Allowing art to become their mode of expression, addressing PTSD, while providing a positive environment, and opportunities to expressed themselves.
We provide:
1. Art materials, supplies to any artist in need.
2. Provide Exhibit space at no direct cost.
3. We provide one Local and one International Award and cash prize yearly – one trophy and a cash prize of $500.00. As inspiration an incentive to try, to create by forcing their emotions through art.
4. We provide free art classes to disabled veterans– we currently provide “one” weekly art class to BUMC members (Tuesdays) from 1-3 pm at no cost – we provide all the supplies required, pencils, pads, inks, and all other course materials required.
5. We provide “three” free on-line art classes – we currently provide free on-line art classes to both disabled Veterans and disabled community members, the home bound, and provide them with any materials they require.
6. We provide “one” free monthly “night-time” art class, the “second Tuesday” of the month at 6:00 pm. These classes require students to draw for one hour, discuss art, we provide a media presentation about art at each meeting, we provide the art materials and instructors and/or models are provided at no cost to the Disabled Veteran.
7. We provide two free classes in crochet monthly for disabled veterans, on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month 10:00 – 12:00. We provide all the yarn and materials needed to make a baby blanket, provide patterns, yarn, needles and any other supplies required. Once completed we contact area hospitals and deliver the blankets free. Hospitals in turn provide the blankets to new born babies to take home with them.
8. We provide Free online listings of art for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Community Artists through Fine art America and Face book at no charge. We take the photos of the art, make any adjustments needed, provide required art talk about the artist and painting being listed at no cost to the Veteran.
9. We provide free artist value certification through Artmajeur and in collaboration with Akoun, the world leader in art market information since 1985. They catalog and list artist and give them an evaluation estimate for their work in Europe, through their office in Clapiers, France.
10. We also provide free Art Appraisal reports by Mearto Art, Copenhagen, Denmark.
11. We provide free art registration through Artmajeur, France, and Classic Artists Foundation, Germany, where the artist work will be registered, individually, and provided a unique identifier number.
12. We provide all administrative costs free to the Veterans and disabled artists, this includes:
A. One free monthly Gallery Exhibit
B. Provide free, costs of news releases
C. Provide free, costs of invitations and postcard announcements 900 per event, est. $560.00 monthly
D. Provide postage for invitations and announcements $495 monthly.
E. Provide the art, setup and design and script verbiage for reception / open-house $600 - $1,000 monthly
F. We provide yearly insurance.
G. We provide free catering service for each opening reception $185.00 monthly.
H. We provide a free monthly lunch for four, “Lunch at the Gallery for 4”, $95.00 monthly
I. We provide free instructors, models, and assistance to all Disabled Veterans, Disabled Artists, and Seniors.
We partner with:
1. Art Without Boundaries Association - Trains artists to become certified Mnemetecnic therapists, and work with individuals with Autism, Alzheimer’s, and other related brain disorders.
2. White Feather Foundation – provides art to local hospitals.
3. Foundation for Hospital Art - provides original artwork to hospitals and nursing homes for the purpose of supplementing the healing work of hospital staffs.
4. The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military
Advances the arts in health, healing, and healthcare for military service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers.
How will we use the funding:
a. We will use the funding to pay for art materials, brushes, paint, canvas and other art supplies required of our disabled veterans.
b. To pay for helpers, teachers, assistants to aid the disable veteran.
c. To pay for better WFI and social media platforms.
d. To pay for yarn and sewing machines.
e. To pay for improved access to the building, a new ramp, wider steps.
f. To pay for new lighting for veterans exhibits, and special needs.
g. To pay for next entry door.
h. For the purchase of new art stands that meet the needs of the Disabled Veterans and disabled community artist.
i. To pay for a new small refrigerator for disabled access.
j. To pay for a new Heating and Air system to meet the needs of disabled veterans.
k. To pay for handicap bathroom upgrades.
l. To pay for upgraded parking area, paving and installation.
m. Pay utilities, lights, gas, water, and lawn maintenance.
n. To pay for advertising, promotion and featured news coverage of events and Exhibits.
o. To pay for a new computer, specialized keyboard.
p. To pay for specialized office chair for disable office administrator.
As a 100% disabled veteran myself, I have struggled to overcome my disabilities, as well as battle PTSD and dyslexia. It has been a 40 year struggle for me.
Art was and is my avenue back into society, my means of giving back to the community and building a sense of hope and wellbeing. We have created not only
the first art gallery in the city, but the first art gallery founded by a disabled veterans for disabled veterans and others with disabilities. We ask for your financial
support so that we can continue helping others, disabled veterans and disabled community members, in achieving our dreams and becoming active members
of the community.