January is upon us, so we decided to ring in the new year with a new and improved newsletter! This is just our first attempt - there is much to look forward to in the coming months.

Read through the new sections, because we are looking for artists and input as new features roll out in each issue.

Do you have questions? Let’s see if we can anticipate them:

ARTIST FEATURE

ATTEND A LOCAL EVENT

WORTH A ROAD TRIP

Western Washington University’s Sculpture Collection:

Bellingham is widely known to be an epic (and epically laid-back) destination for unusual things. You can take a ferry to Alaska, visit a museum of electricity, and enjoy the world’s best beer. Ski to Sea is the sort of event that you should check out if you’re into team relay races comprised of a series of semi-extreme sports on both land and water.

Home to Western Washington University (Western), Bellingham is home to a pretty amazing sculpture collection. Have you been to Western’s gorgeous campus? A quick walk around and you are sure to see some stunners, all of which bring your attention to ways that art can make you look inward and outward at the same time.

Richard Serra’s “Wright’s Triangle” invites you to enter, but beware how it makes you feel. Isamu Noguchi’s “Skyviewing Sculpture,” on the other hand, welcomes in the sun and sky for all. “Stadium Piece” by Bruce Nauman also draws you in, asks you to consider: will you enter? What will you see, if you do? And who will see you?

Browse Western’s sculpture collection and go see it in person! You won’t regret a day trip to Bellingham. If you need a meal, try the Colophon Cafe and spend some time (and money) in Village Books. If you need an espresso, try the walk-up bar at Mambo Italiano. And of course, literally any brewery is likely to be mind-blowingly good.

ASK A GRANT EXPERT

Dear Grant Expert,

When I submit a grant proposal for an art project, am I allowed to spend the money on paying myself?

If so, how should I calculate the value of my time?

-Feeling Funny Funding Feelings

The answer to this question is a wholehearted YES! Yes, you should get paid for your time and efforts. Yes, your expertise can be quantified in an hourly rate. Yes, your funder is expecting you to show the cost of your time.

You need to make sure to read all the fine print - funders generally specify eligible items for grant pretty clearly.

And you know what? Even in the instances when they state they will not fund artist/project leader pay, you should outline the cost of your time. If you don’t show them what it takes to make your amazing work, they will never know. It is rare that the folks deciding on grant funding have lived experience that matches yours.

Here is how to calculate the value of your time:

I will tell you this: 100 percent of the time, this number will shock you. It’s a huge number, because you have to do an incredible amount of work to make great things happen.

Do not shy away from showing the funder the true cost of this work. You don’t have ask them to fund it, but you need to show you take your time and effort seriously. If you don’t, who will?

In Solidarity,

Ali

ARTIST LISTINGS:

CALL FOR ARTISTS!

We are seeking artists in all genres for this curated online gallery!

Would you like your art to be displayed in this section, to an audience who is especially tuned in to artsy experiences and ideas?

This section of the Open Studio Newsletter is a low-cost advertising opportunity with the goal to connect artists and audiences via trusted sources.

Here are the criteria for inclusion in this section:

To apply:

Priority will be given to the artists with the most compelling artist statements as well as meeting the stated criteria.

MAKE MORE ART!

THERE ARE A LOT OF PUBLIC GRANTS OUT THERE

YOU COULD WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICE

King County is hiring an Arts & Culture Manager, who will lead the new Executive’s efforts to support, coordinate, and elevate arts, culture, and heritage initiatives countywide, with a concentration in unincorporated communities. This is a one of a kind job that you might be the right person for!

WANT TO SHOW YOUR ART?

Show Your Art is a unique and amazing resource for emerging artists. You won’t regret taking the time to explore their offerings.

GET DISCOUNTS TO ART AND MUSIC CLASSES

In our fall survey, discounts to music and art classes came back as a huge priority for readers of this newsletter. We’re going to approach this in two steps:

Step 1: Discounts at Happy Time Studio’s music and art classes

We can now offer a 20% discount off of up to three classes per year at Happy Time Studio!

To be eligible, you must become a paid subscriber. The discount can be used at any in-house art class, and for the deposit for the 12-week music classes. You may use this perk once per calendar year, or, if you subscribe for a full year, you can use it up to three times in a calendar year.

Upcoming classes (not all are live online yet, but will be very soon!):

Step 2: Discounts at other area arts organizations

Once we can show proof of concept (demonstrate a certain amount of subscribers and some data on how many people actually use the discount to take classes), we can recruit other partner organizations to join in on the fun. Help us prove this works by subscribing today!

LOOKING FOR MORE EVENT CALENDARS?

BelRed Arts District - The ONLY arts-focused calendar for the Eastside! Take a look and add your events!

Visit Issaquah - Issaquah’s most comprehensive collection of goings-ons, arts and otherwise.

King County Libraries - So many types of free arts events all around the county! Our libraries are amazing.