The Baker Street Art Gallery is a creative drop-in centre. It is a welcoming space where anyone can sit and paint, have a snack, connect, share knowledge, and be a part of a non-judgmental community. It is a safe space that provides free art supplies and a positive environment for anyone interested in engaging their own creativity and that serves as a weekend home for some fifty Guelph artists, many of whom are participants in the Our Place Youth Centre and Fresh Start Housing programs. The Baker Street Art Gallery is a place of empowerment, where individual voices can be expressed through the medium of art and where stories are acknowledged and valued.
And it is a space full of stories: unique stories about life in Guelph that too often go unheard by the wider Guelph community.
We are a group of students from the University of Guelph working with the gallery to create an anthology of paintings, poetry and prose focusing on the stories of people whose lives are affected by the important work being done there. The book will be a high-quality, limited printing that will be sold by donation with funds going to pay for needed art supplies.
We also hope to hold a launch party to celebrate the release of the anthology and the opening of a public art show featuring work by many of the artists working at The Baker Street Art Gallery. This event will be an opportunity for the artists to celebrate and sell their work, meet with old and new friends, and connect with artists from other pockets of the city. Speakers, musicians and actors from the Gallery and elsewhere may perform.
The Impact
At the core of this campaign is the desire to bridge gaps between communities, where the marginalized can be given a way to share their stories and be respected for them.
If we are not able to receive the money that is required for this project, it will be just another way that this community has been ignored and rejected by those who surround them. This project is about affirming a group of individuals who are trying to rise above judgment and make use of their skill sets. Through art they tell their stories and this project gives them the platform that is needed for these stories to be heard.
What We Need & What You Get
Our project in its entirety will cost upwards of $5,000. The majority of the money will be going toward the anthology. Any additional money will go toward the book launch, all proceeds from which will go directly to the gallery for supplies (paint, canvases, etc.). Other funding sources include the University of Guelph, bake sales, donations, etc. By donating to this project, you are affirming the power of art and the power of stories. You are saying that you believe everyone deserves to share their stories, no matter who they are, or where they came from. Any businesses that attach themselves to this project will gain attention from not only this community, but also a wider community of art enthusiasts who know the therapeutic benefits of painting and creating.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you are unable to donate, please spread the word about Baker Street Art Gallery and what they have accomplished within the Guelph community. Just sharing this project through social media, or word of mouth will heighten our chances of reaching our goal.
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