Kathryn Vercillo's Artists Dream Year

For just 28 cents per day, you can fund my 43rd Birthday ARTISTS DREAM YEAR. It is a way to spread the word that artistic process matters more than constant productivity. It's a way to fund deep research into the complex relationship between art and mental health. It includes a ten percent return to other artists, explained below. And it's a way to determine for yourself what of my creations is worth the price to you. It's artists supporting artists, creatives supporting creatives. Please read on!!!

Do you believe that creative people have something important to offer to the world and that they should be supported in offering it? Do you believe that our culture focuses on productivity at the cost of mental and physical health? Do you want to do something about it? You can! And you can also get something out of it (read below for the potential benefits if you contribute!!)

(above image is a portion of my new book coming out through Schiffer in late April 2023)

This is what my work is all about. And I'm launching this innovative project to give you a variety of different ways to support this work. Details follow, with lots of options for what you can get out of it all, but the gist is that if 1000 people believe in this enough to donate just $100 (which works out to contributing only 28 cents per day!) then it would create a living example of a six figure artist. THE GOAL is to inspire belief in the idea that artists, including those with chronic mental health issues, are worth this because they give something to our society that isn't found in the traditional businesses marketing to all of us today.

I will spend the next solid year doing full-time work to spread the message that artists with mental health challenges can have creative and financial success while maintaining wellness. My work will include lectures, webinars, readings, podcasts, press releases, artwork, social media messaging, articles, a new book, and more. All to say "art matters, mental health matters!" Your $100 contribution helps tell the world that you believe in this too. The more people who contribute, the bigger we can spread the message. And if you want something more tangible for your $100, that's an option for you as well. Also, I believe in artistic tithing and give a minimum of ten percent of my income to other artists/writers/makers so if we meet the goal that automatically means at least $10000 goes directly to other artists.

So, below, I'll tell you who I am, why I launched this project, and what options you have to get some great things if you contribute.

WHO IS KATHRYN VERCILLO?

I am a writer and artist with over 15 years experience researching the complex relationship between art and mental health. I have written books, been part of art exhibitions, held workshops, worked 1:1 with artists, and created textile art all in support of deeper understanding of not just art as therapy but also how mental health challenges impact artistic process and content. Through education, lived experience, in-depth interviews, and conventional research, I work to understand this and then share it to change the world for one artist at a time.

More about me at Create Me Free

My books on Amazon

WHY THIS PROJECT?

I have supported myself as a writer and artist in San Francisco for 17 years despite living with chronic recurring mental health issues. It isn't ever financially easy, but I am doing the work that I feel called to do, and I always put my whole heart and mind into it.

In recent years, I have conversed often with people who are frustrated about how hard it is to make a sustainable living as a creative person in this culture, especially if you also cope with symptoms of chronic health issues. Which so many people do!! The numbers of people with depression and anxiety are so high that they point to a significant social problem, not a problem with the individuals. We can change the problem by drawing more attention to it.

I am always working to figure out how to best support myself while also setting an example for other creative people to believe in, invest in, and share their own powerful work. And that's where this project comes in.

Do you realize that if 1000 people contribute just $100 to an artist for one year, that artist will then be a six figure artist? Isn't that worth believing in?!?!?! Isn't that worth supporting?! And while it supports me directly, what it really supports is a year of full-time work spreading this message which means it has the potential to inspire many more people and projects.

This project allows you an easy way to directly help make that change start to happen right now. I have a long history of completing work in the field of art and mental health. I have several projects in the works including two new books. I will do the work regardless, with the past experience to show for it, and you can contribute to making this type of career an example for others.

WHAT YOU GET FOR DONATING!!!!

I believe that simply setting this example is going to be a benefit for so many different artists / creatives and people with mental health challenges looking to contribute their full selves to the world in exchange for making a good living. So you have the option to donate without asking for anything tangible simply because you believe in the idea of this project and want to spread the message that we as a group believe that art and mental health matter.

However, I also understand that you might want to get something more tangible for your money. That is absolutely valid! So the way that this is going to work is you'll tell me what you need from me within the next year in order to feel comfortable with giving this $100.

Here are some ideas of what you can choose for your $100 contribution. I am open to a variety of different options, though, so if there's something else you'd like to choose that's not on this list, let me know!

ARTISTIC TITHING

I believe in artistic tithing. I give at least ten percent of my earned income directly to other artists, writers, and small creative businesses. Therefore, if we meet our goal of getting 1000 people to contribute $100 each, then $10,000 automatically goes right back out to other artists this year.

NEXT STEPS!!! HERE'S HOW IT WORKS

If you're ready to contribute, make your contribution of $100 or more right now. Once you've done that, leave me a comment or send me an email letting me know what item on the list you choose to receive.

If you want something not on the list, send me an email, and we'll see what we can work out.

THEN, after you've donated, make sure to share this with everyone you can. This only works if 1000 people give their 28 cents per day donation. So we have to make sure people know about it and about why you chose to participate. And that's it.

I recently heard from a finance expert that our expenses represent what we value and prioritize. If you contribute to my year of intensively spreading the message, you are prioritizing the importance of art and mental health in individuals and communities. And I am grateful to you for that.