Artist Access Grant

As an artist I thrive on seeing the joy art brings to others. I nearly shut down the gallery after some vandalism a year ago but the community support and messages that came out of the woodwork made me realize how valued the gallery is, even if it's often a quiet support. As the curator of the Free Little Art Gallery, it's easier to curate the gallery when there are more new pieces to rotate through, it's also presumably more enjoyable for the people visiting to have a greater variety to see. I want people to feel comfortable with interacting with the gallery and taking the art if they choose to. At the barest minimum, I want people like the students I work with to have access to quality art supplies even if it doesn't increase gallery interaction at all. I get the majority of my feedback via social media and word of mouth. I've also added chalk outside the gallery for people to leave messages and drawings and that has been well received. I will know that I have been successful if people are taking the kits from the participating partners and from my table at events. I will know there is success if I see increased local participation on social media. In the last 30 days, approximately 30% of the interactions are identified as being from Duluth, Superior and Hermantown. I would love to see