Hello, my name is Fresca Grissino, and I am raising funds to support our community nonprofit art hub to help our artists, craftsmen and the struggling art community in the Taos, New Mexico area. It is called Sanctuary Artistry Gallery and Gift.

.....please take the time to read our story and support our ongoing project, help keep our gallery open and our struggling artists productive and thriving!.......it is my mission to help our artists develop to their full potential--and support them with the honor they deserve--so they continue to form the circle of giving back and contributing sustainably to our economy.......artists keep most of their money from their sales here in our world-class gallery, with Veterans at zero commission

....currently, we need donations for general operating expenses and to keep our community life draw classes going at optimum quality.....many artists have said that the environment and support in our non-degreed workshops is superior to that in institutions....

....as we supply all art materials, provide transportation when necessary, help our veteran artist members when needed, help our future incoming artists.....our arts need support OR the importance of the arts will vanish from our culture......

As a gallery owner for 30 years, I saw 9-11 and COVID decline the careers and incomes of some of the most talented art professionals in the country. These were our art instructors, innovators of creative curriculum in schools, our designers and architects of products and buildings. These were the backbone of this economy-local, state, national.....

During all this, the decline has also coincided with basic economic decline, low morale and productivity, declining government services and urban decay. A thriving economy needs creatives, but we will start here first with Sanctuary Artistry.

Taos, New Mexico has a long standing, famous reputation as a go-to cultural art hub---but within this double-edged scenario in the last 20 years, art galleries have closed by the dozens; the arrival to me of artists who cannot afford to sell their works because of high commissions taken out; their pensions cut; high-level art professionals still owing on their student loans at 70 years old; cancer and other illnesses; reduced medical benefits; forced relocations; stress and trauma of military service, etc....this has led to the culmination of POVERTY at an alarming rate for working artists. And a much lower of sustainable contribution to the economy.......

...we are a bonafide registered 501c3 nonprofit....the Sanctuary Artistry project is growing not just by offering an extremely low negotiable commission & world-class gallery to show and sell; it is developing flexible and low-cost workshop programs in many mediums by some of the best instructors in the usa!........

..... Veterans show and sell at zero commission rates! Future bi-yearly scholarship fund maintained along with a working artist fund that is already established & helping......we meld education with representation & promotion, Both brick and mortar and digital, enhancing their exposure at no cost to them.........our webpage:

sanctuary-artistry.org

I envision collaboration with whoever has a meeting of the minds !.....and we welcome all to come and visit!!......we are located at 219 Kit Carson road in Taos, New Mexico....we are open thursdays, fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 5pm.....

.....use google search or search for our YELP.com page, sanctuary artistry.....and please visit our gallery and support our local artists!

...we cannot ignore this cultural and economic crisis.....the declining art economy and it's consequences has long been talked about, but not really addressed; I am addressing this issue on an intimate, smaller, hands-on scale with good results, i think better overall results in a shorter time frame than many large, over-bloated corporate-style nonprofits.

This 'immediate' and 'long term' innovative project has been growing and evolving with the intention to serve, all being done right now without government funding. In this new political climate, it will be the citizens, not government, who stand tall to our needs; for that which is needed.....your input and your opinions are taken seriously; i will answer your communication!

.....the term 'culture' does not necessarily refer to ethnicity or demographics---it also refers to a sense of values and cohesion within an area, be it a passion for a particular cause, a need for a stable physical prescence..........maybe a need for expression and invention.........maybe the word could be innovation.....

Sanctuary Artistry also expands our thoughts on how historic infrastructure can serve, protect and enhance a community corridor through supporting the arts and applying enduring aesthetics....this creates in turn a complimentary grass roots transition for economic development.....this brings a different perspective into economic development, in the sense that our communities are in a process of preserving innovatively while helping revitalize wholeness to its residing and visiting people, versus redevelopment merely for the wealthy genre....within this regard, we stay true in offering affordable aesthetics for the interested population--not solely for the extremely wealthy.

The 26--yes,now 26!--artists currently showing chose this place as their Sanctuary.....please help keep this gallery open to serve our struggling artists......

OUR GROWTH IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHAT WE OFFER IS NEEDED!

UPDATE: WE NOW ALSO HOST THE JANE HARDY WRITING GROUP ON THURSDAYS AT 2PM

Your donation of only $25.00 would go great lengths to continue and grow this vision, to keep the gallery open, to shore up expenses with residency upkeep for the artists and visiting community ...

IF YOU WANT TO REQUEST THAT YOUR DONATION BE APPLIED TO A SPECIFIC AREA OF THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT ME FROM THIS SITE, I AM HAPPY TO ACCOMODATE YOU IF I CAN.....

On gofund me, you can press the 'monthly' button and contribute a small amount per month, "pledge style"......this is a very economical alternative....

Sanctuary Artistry has a strong ethic against any discrimination based on ethnicity, age, sex, orientation, income..

....update progress for july: electric plugs, light fixture and space heater for LIFE DRAWING workshop.....new art supplies .....

.....your help is truly helping those that are earnestly helping themselves through applying the arts.

Thank you for your help and support...

.....Fresca Grissino, Manager, Sanctuary Artistry