Biome : Art Education Center : Slow Craft Showroom

Primarily an art education and workspace for the community, Biome will host workshops for all ages revolving around the arts. Including watercolor, stained glass, natural dye clothing, paper making and more. We will also host pop-ups, events and forums, as well as have a small showroom to showcase artists that focus on sustainable, small batch, high quality work. 


WHAT DOES YOUR SUPPORT MEAN FOR US? 

Our total Goal Raised is $20,000 

First will be able to renovate the space with eco-friendly paint, switch all lights to LED, pay our security deposit and pay rent for the first month!  We will  ALSO be able to get our business up and running! Things like marketing, signage and logo, building a website platform,  paying an accountant, insurance, installing a central alarm system and register system. This is HUGE!

Most of the money will go to the Art Education and Workspace going! 5 big workshop tables, art supplies like paint/paper/glue/jewelry kits/scissors, stained glass tools, leather tools, a paper press, washer and dryer for natural dye, lockers for storage. etc.

Holy Moly : if $25,000 is raised...You would have our eternal thanks. This extra $5,000 means Biome would have a safety net to be able to pay ourselves, right from the start, for the many many..... many hours put in to make this dream happen.

We will randomly select all donators for "gift baskets" of artwork from the 65+ amazing artist that we will be carrying in the showroom. Your basket could include any of these items below. Stickers, Ceramic mugs/small dishes, Handkerchiefs, Pair of Earrings, Leather Wallet, Wooden Vase, Apothecary Items, Small prints..etc.

Donation Rewards
$10 -
This donation also includes a HUGE THANK YOU! It means the world to us. We will showcase all donators names at our Opening Weekend Pop-Up in September.


$25-
 Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! We can't wait to see you for our Opening Weekend pop-up, because you just got a free pass of entry!!


$50-
Free Pass for your first Workshop!!! From candle making, stained glass, beginning jewelry or watercolor.

TWO passes to our Opening Weekend Pop-up! Bring a friend!

Thank you so much for your contribution, we will feature your name among the other donators at our opening weekend pop-up in September!


$100
TWO Workshops Free!
TWO passes to our Opening Weekend Pop-Up, so you can bring a friend!
And wait... An invitation to our Soft Opening Party (Event will take place the first week of September) (Social Distancing/Limited # of Entries at one time and Masks will be required)! : )



$250-
TWO Workshops Free!
TWO passes to our Opening Weekend Pop-Up! Anomal Press- WildFlower Panel (Limited # of 10) (Shipping Included)

An invitation for you AND a friend to our Soft Opening Party (Social Distancing/Limited # of Entries and Masks will be required)! : )



$500-
Workshops free for our first year in business! HOLY MOLY - This is huge for us.

Thank you for contributing. -You'll also receive TWO invitations to our Soft Opening (Social Distancing) Party -

Blue Heron - Anomal Press Print. (Limited to the first 10 contributors)
AS WELL AS
- A plaque in the store to show how we will forever be thankful for your contribution. 

 EARLY BIRD ACCESS to our pop-up events!!


$1000
10% off all purchases for life!!! You're making the dream happen, thank you.

Early-bird access to ALL pop-up events -FREE workshops the first year!

-Two tickets to a soft opening party

-A plaque recognizing your support on our wall as a forever thank you!

As well as A BEAUTIFUL HoneyBee print from Anomal Press!




WHAT IS BIOME? 


bi·ome /ˈbīˌōm/noun

 a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g. forest, desert or tundra.
 
Because we share the world with many other species of plants and animals, we must consider the consequences of our actions. Over the past several decades, increasing human activity has rapidly destroyed or polluted many ecological habitats throughout the world. It is important to preserve all types of biomes, as each houses unique forms of life. As a community art space, Biome will strive to lead the way in eco-friendly and sustainable arts by means of education, pop-ups, auctions and a showroom. 

What is "Biome, Slow Craft Collective?"


600 sq ft will be dedicated to showcase locally made and sustainable crafts, selling at a 70%/30% rate. This rate means when a product is purchased, 70% of sales goes straight back to the artist. 30% going back to Biome. We feel that by providing a higher that normal rate back to the artist, they in turn, will be able to create more beautiful works of art for us!  



We will carry mostly Montana made products by talented local artists, however we are also excited to be receiving small batches of work from a few incredible artists in the surrounding states.  As named, "Biome" will showcase pieces that incorporate a heavy nod of respect towards the flora and fauna that surrounds us. Often as an Artist, we are inspired heavily from our surroundings. We tend to integrate the patterns/nature of our environment into our creations, in turn affecting the environment, plants and animals that share it. Such as clothes made from natural materials and stained with natural dye. Stained Glass pressed plants. Ceramics, prints and jewelry that are using sustainable and eco-friendly practices. All pieces will celebrate slow art and slow fashion practices.

"My hope is to someday be able to portray the subtlety, muteness, and yet the intensity that nature’s color palette possesses. The variation that takes our breath away in a sunlit landscape, the insane detail that makes up a single flower bud - it’s truly mesmerizing to be awed and romanticized by all that grows and exists amongst us. All we can do is observe, learn, create, and aim to live in harmony within it all." - Yula Ceramics

1800sq ft will be dedicated to workshops, film premiere nights, open art nights, education, forums, pop-ups and private events.  Multiple tables, a kitchen area, library and comfy chairs/couches will also be available during open "art nights"  where people can bring their art project to be able to create around others. (Social distancing and masks will be required for the foreseeable future.)

 In addition to Workshops, Pop-Ups will be hosted in which 10+ Artists (cut down in Covid times) will be asked to bring themselves and all inventory to create a mini market. 90% of sales will go straight back to the Artist! With 10% of sales going back to Biome. 


**1st Pop-Up Event Scheduled: Fri/Sat September 4th/5th from 5pm-9pm***


We are very excited to host forums and Community Talks. Revolving around subjects like “how to use your craft to grow a small business ethically” and “which online platform/marketing tools should be used.”  to "what is SEO and how can it help me?" We will create a community of artists that can come together to brainstorm, learn from others mistakes and gains, and provide each other with support, in real time and in person. 

 When graduating College, most of us feel overwhelmed with what to do next. We lose our community that was our school, mentors and teachers, as well as the facilities in which we create.  Biome will provide a great landing pad for recently graduating students as well as anyone that is interested in furthering their creativity and developing a small business.

In the next few years Biome plans to create "Biome Studios" which will support artists further by providing affordable, low-income studio spaces to create a foundation and community for the local economy to thrive. As well as creating an application based scholarship for a certain number of artists to have free studio space. In the future we will strive for a large workspace with tool share, metal smithing/wax casting equipment, dark room, as well as a fibers studio and wood working shop. We hope to turn in to a Non-Profit as soon as possible, its just a lot to get going all at once, but we are SUPER excited about the opportunity!!


Biome aims to be as Green as Possible:

Shopping local for us means a lot for building a community, but it also means, less packaging. Often mass production and online stores leads to overly packaged and shipped items. Boxes are often filled with non-biodegradable products such as a box in a box with styrofoam peanuts and bubblewrap. By supporting Biome, YOU in turn support the practices of sustainable living and eco-friendly consumerism by keeping it local. 

All bags given when supporting the Biome Showroom will be RECYCLED!  If you have any brown or white paper gift bags that you would like to donate in the next few months we would LOVE to take them off your hands. Each bag will have a stenciled BIOME logo painted on top of the old bag logo! 



                                                        Anomal Press : Honey Bee 


The Biome will proudly support

: The Slow Art Manifesto : 

To strive for appropriate excellence in the making process.
To make objects that enhance the life of the user.
To know the origins of our materials, ensuring that they respect the country and the communities who produced or harvested them, and are from sustainable sources.
To make objects that will last, can be easily repaired when necessary and are made using materials and processes that do not harm the makers, the community or the environment.
To deal with our co-workers, clients, suppliers and sellers in an ethical and fair manner.
To foster, utilize and pass on skills that enhance the making process.
To enjoy and relish the way of slow making.
A movement has begun to honor and preserve the art of slow crafting. Despite the convenience and presumed desire for expedited everything, there is a revived yearning for authenticity. For raw, artisanal, handmade, one-of-a-kind, sustainable creations. Living authentically is living artfully. 






Supporting this project in turn directly supports the following artists :

Taka Shoes, Cocoabijou, Saxton Studios, Anomal Press,  Solful, Absorka, Ciara Easterling, La Maree, Hyena MFG, The Hollow Valley, Woven wyld, Gemini Mtn Swimwear, Candice Haster, Crafted and Cut, Totally Blown, Plant Haus, Wild Mtn Ink, Ashley Seaton, Spiced Ink, Gretel Leather, Lauren Brinkers, Weavegold, APIS Idaho, Calliope Flowers, DGAF Embroidery, Isaac Lowe-Anker, Rex Lynx, Yula Ceramics, Whiskey Tango, Jupiter Oak, Donkey Girl Designs, Slow North, Lady Lancaster, Morgan Made, Ceramic Co, January Jewelry, Cannelita, Riverbed Gems, Indianpaintbrush Designs, Anomal Press, M.Tabish, Brick and Bound, Two Poppies Apothecary, C.Wilky Paint, Alex Loesser, Hustle Throw Repeat,  Kblab Watercolor, Foxfire Goods, Agile Goat Farm, Unstrung Studios, Hyalite Canyon, Valleyhouse woodworking, Plume Handmade, Mountain Maiden Jewelry, Hide Stich and Hook, Snowday Leather, Settlewell, Bean an Ti, Anna Bagley, Vaya Designs, River Bed Gems, Sophie Ruiz, The Northern Craft.... and literally so many more. 





THANK YOU SO MUCH, From the bottom of our hearts. This has been a dream project for years and it's finally coming to fruition! So excited to see you all there.  
Risks and challenges






We are taking Covid-19 very seriously. All events, workshops and pop-ups will require Masks and hand sanitation upon entering as well as a limited number of people allowed in the building at once. We understand there is a huge risk of opening during these uncertain times, however we are taking every precaution to make sure we are keeping everyone safe and healthy. We believe during this surge of online buying and stay at home DIY projects, Biome can offer sustainable and eco-friendly options through online workshops and our website platform.