Arts Unbound, Matheny Arts announce first arts program for artists with disabilities

ORANGE, NJ — Arts Unbound and the Matheny Medical and Educational Center’s Arts Access Program, two New Jersey-based non-profits that support the professional development of artists with developmental or physical disabilities, have launched Art Garden CSA, a community-supported arts program, to connect emerging artists with disabilities and local art collectors. Based on popular community-supported agriculture programs that let consumers buy seasonal food directly from local farms, the Art Garden CSA cultivates a relationship between emerging artists and buyers whose purchases help support and sustain those artists’ careers.

“Our Art Garden CSA will help local artists with disabilities launch their professional careers with the hope that they could become self-supporting through the sale of their art,” said Celene Ryan, director of Artist Development at Arts Unbound. “It’s a powerful dynamic because, when the buyers meet the artists and receive their artwork, it dispels any misperceptions about the range, sophistication and quality of art created by people with disabilities.”

Through the Art Garden CSA, 10 local artists with disabilities will be selected and each will be given a stipend of $1,000. Each artist will be required to create 25 pieces of art for the program. These could range from paintings, jewelry, small sculptures, wearable art, photography and more. The “community” is comprised of any individual or group that purchases one of the 25 available shares. They pay $500 for each share and in return receive 10 pieces of art — one from each artist. The buyers will receive their art at two “pick-up” events during the year where they can meet the artists and establish relationships. Shares can be purchased through the Art Garden website at artgardencsa.org.

“This program puts us at the forefront of an entirely new way of connecting artists with patrons and making original art accessible to first-time buyers. What makes Art Garden CSA so special though is that, not only are you buying great art, every share purchased helps a talented artist with a disability move one step closer towards making a living as a professional artist,” said Eileen Murray, director of the Arts Access Program, Matheny Medical and Educational Center. “Your purchase also goes towards providing training to help our artists develop the entrepreneurial skills, like building a website, promoting their art and nurturing relationships, that will help them succeed in their careers.”

Art Garden CSA is made possible by a community employment grant from the Kessler Foundation.

For more information, contact Celene Ryan, Director of Artist Development, Arts Unbound, at cryan@artsunbound.org or call 973-675-2787.

  Arts Unbound, Matheny Medical