Ag47 Amplifies Creative Voices and NEEDS YOUR HELP

Hello! And thank you for clicking this link! If you did, you're probably connected to someone in Ag47, an all-ages art collective based in Logan Square in Chicago. Perhaps that person is one of our incredible youth artists, aged 11-17, who come and meet with us each Sunday from January to May each year and make art on a theme. Maybe that person is one of our thoughtful and wonderful adult mentors, who serve as role models, safe spaces, and creative guideposts to our youth artists. Maybe you have been or know one of our local guest artists, who come each week to teach us about their mediums (everything from glitch art to found-object sculptures, photography, collage, sound, woodworking, and all that's in between). Thank you for clicking, and let us tell you a bit about why we need your help!



However you heard about us, it is most likely through our vast network in Chicago who have supported and encouraged us for 10 years now. Ag47 is a free art program that serves the Chicago area by giving youth a voice to explore and express themselves while learning about conceptual art and artists. Each year we create art together on a theme (and this year our theme was Apocalypse. Serendipitous, right?), and at the end of our workshop season, we have a Final Showcase! It's the BEST part of our year! Final Showcase always acts as a fundraiser for our shoestring budget for the next year. That includes: rent ($600), art supplies (we subsist on donations a lot, but very often have to buy lots of extra canvas, clay, paper, projectors, etc to fit each project), funds to pay our guest artists ($75 per week + $$ for supplies), food ($30-50 per week depending on allergies), small stipends for the directors ($250 per year), and final showcase needs (up to $500) for the following year. (That does not include emergencies, meeting budgets, mentor retreat for brainstorming for the next year, etc. ) Final Showcase is always a blast and lets us out into the community to show our friends, families, and neighbors what we've been up to each Sunday from 2-5 pm. 



Alas, this year we are not able to have our Final Showcase because of Covid-19. And that's ok! We would rather have safe and healthy (but distanced) collective members than the alternative. But it puts us in quite a bind. You see, in order for Ag47 to continue we must raise enough money each year to fund the next season. And that's where we're hoping you'll come in. We are hoping to raise enough money to continue Ag47 in 2021 and enter our 11th year of serving the Chicago area with free arts programming. If you have anything to spare, we would be so grateful. You will be supporting future artists, working artists, and your community. 

We are so grateful for you and for anyone who has ever supported Ag47 in the past. Thank you from the bottom of our collective hearts. We celebrate you. 

We will be sending out a digital zine of our work this season to anyone who contributes. 

Thank you for your help, 

Ag47
Meredith Kachel - Executive Director
Jessica Correa  - Creative Director
Hope Barnes - Creative Director
Nick Meryhew - Creative Director