World4Good Blueprint: Human-Focused Solutions that Work
“It’s not just about selling art but also about celebrating strength,” Liz Powers
We bring you Tempo Community Champion Liz Powers and her work that illuminates the pathway for economically-marginalized and disabled people. Through her work, Powers makes dreams come true for struggling artists who have the talent but are unable to thrive because of their various handicaps.
Powers worked as a social worker who ran art therapy group. It was during that phase of her life, when she ran the therapy groups, that she noticed quality artistic masterpieces were produced but were eventually discarded. Attendees of her therapy sessions echoed the need for the opportunity to show their work, rather than just receive charity and handouts. It wasn’t long before she envisioned a platform where she could showcase the works of those gifted.
“I’ve worked in homeless shelters and disability centers for over 10 years when I got the idea to start art groups to alleviate the loneliness. With that, I realized there were already existing art groups all across the country, about 1,000 of them, and that quality, salable art was being produced every day in these groups!
The issue was that the art wasn’t going anywhere after. Instead, it would just collect dust or be thrown out. This is where I realized the need for something like ArtLifting. ArtLifting gives these artists a previously nonexistent platform to sell their artwork.”
Powers went on to establish ArtLifting, a non-profit company in Boston in November 2013 together with her sibling Spencer Powers. At first, it was just four local artists in Boston, but soon the idea grew to over 110 artists nationwide, and climbing.
How is ArtLifting is Making a Difference?
ArtLifting preents itself as a forum that empowers artists a second chance who are underrepresented in the past art market. Every artist at ArtLifting has a unique perspective and style with their own back story that reflects their struggle and life experience. These artistic interpretations of the powerful backstories have inspired local communities to drive social change and embrace new talent in the art market.
A Harvard graduate, Powers has built a platform that promotes and sells original masterpieces, prints, and licensed merchandise created by homeless and disabled people. One of these artists is Scott Benner, who suffers from a nerve condition, another is Jeff Roysdon, who deals daily with anxiety, and Tim Strouss, is partially paralyzed. They are examples among the 100+ artists currently on the roster.
Airlifting provides them with revenue opportunities towards a viable livelihood, and possible recognition and fame. The non-profit organization has caught the eyes of renowned designers who are drawn to the humanitarian angle and their compelling artist backstories. It has driven corporate institutions and hotels to portray these art pieces to complement their interiors. .
How Much Can Disability Artists Earn?
ArtLifting stands as a ‘Public Benefit Corporation’ supplying value to art buyers via its ‘Business for Good” approach. Artist receive 55% of the total profit from every piece sold while 1% goes towards funding art supplies to art parties nationwide. ArtLifting uses the remaining 44% to keep the mission running and ensure the organization is financially secure to keep going.
ArtLifting revolves around constructing possibility, assignment, and validation. This enables artists a chance to secure their income from original paintings, merchandise, prints, and other products.
Powers elaborates: “When I realized that there was no company that was similar, I knew that ArtLifting had to be founded. The infrastructure (art programs in shelters and disability centers) was already in place, and the artists were already creating art. The only thing missing was a marketplace for this art. ArtLifting gives these artists a platform to sell their artwork. My goal is to make their invisible talents visible and by doing so, change stereotypes. Instead of defining people by their circumstance, we should define them by their talent.”
Where Does ArtLifting Stand Today?
The whole concept of the name ArtLifting can be broken up where ‘Art’ is self-explanatory and ‘Lifting’ refers not only to boost the morale of an artist but also to inspire the buyer. Powers strongly believes that ArtLifting is a chief happiness spreader. She says her mission is to expand the foundation’s initiative to a point where the concept does not just spread in every state in the US but also reaches global recognition.
Learn more about Artlifting and get involved.
http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-liz-powers-artlifting-back-bay/
