Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1447854
About Art Ventures Art Ventures is a non-profit charitable and educational organization in Fayetteville, dedicated to providing access to Art for Everyone. Art Ventures promotes the visual arts in Northwest Arkansas by actively collaborating with the community, supporting artists working to the highest standards, encouraging education and public engagement in the arts, and providing accessibility to under- represented communities. They believe in supporting and developing young artists, and that quality of life is greatly improved through exposure to art. Art Ventures has been a part of the NWA community since 2009 when it opened in the basement of 1 East Center Street on the Fayetteville Square as Fayetteville Underground. They moved to 101 W. Mountain on the southwest corner of the Square in 2012 and qualified for 501c3 non-profit status in late 2014. Since 2014 they have been supported by the Windgate Charitable Foundation, the Walmart Foundation, Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Community Foundation, and individual donations. The sale of artworks by artists who live the mission also brings in supporting revenue. Until Art Ventures set the stage in 2009 as Fayetteville Underground, most artists would vie for places on the walls of coffee shops and farmers' market stands in Northwest Arkansas. These opportunities still exist and provide much-needed exposure, but Art Ventures provides artists a dedicated and reliable space to exhibit their work and for the community to gather around Art for Everyone. Art Ventures' Exhibitions and Gallery programming, free to the public, allows everyone to participate in the gallery experience, and provides a venue for high-quality, innovative art. They focus on representing artists from diverse backgrounds and art that tells the story of diverse cultural experiences. Art Ventures identifies promising artists to help them advance their arts education and practice through workshops, artist talks, mentoring, and direct contemporary educational written and oral materials, and time. hands-on experience. The training is available to anyone, who, as the brochure puts it, "is ready to step up, work hard, and not just prepare for the future, but to help build the future." There are plans to ramp up robotics training in 2022, now that two new robots with new robotics skills have been acquired. Since the start of the program in September 2019, Josh and his team have trained more than 200 people, 24% of whom have gone on to study at NWACC, and 17% of whom were women. The Center is now training Walmart and Tyson employees, along with military veterans. Home-grown art Also displayed around the office are large paintings by lesser-known artists— the Chamber's employees themselves. It's a project that Steve dreamed up a few years ago. An unofficial condition of employment here is the creation of an original work of art. The employees don't necessarily know this when they are hired. "I sort of spring it on them later," laughs Steve. He gives each one a large blank canvas, 12 colors of paint, 12 brushes, and has them go at it. "I instruct them to start by drawing one line, cross that line with another, and go from there. I give them about three hours to complete it." To Steve, it's an exercise in inclusion, creativity and in helping folks step outside of their comfort zone. "Painting takes a little courage. It's important to feel 'I'm not afraid to try.' Creativity is all about making something. Just being creative is a victory in itself." Steve learns something about his employees through the art-making process. And they learn something about themselves. "It was unexpected," says Chief Economic Development Officer Zane Chenault, when he learned about the art project after being hired about 2 years ago. "I'm not an artist. When I was in the 8