About the project: Community-Supported Art is modeled after the Community-Supported Agriculture (or ‘farm share’) model of food distribution, where customers deal directly with farmers, investing funds at the beginning of the growing season. This upfront investment in the farmers allows them to create a harvest of healthy, organic, and local food, which is delivered to customers on a weekly basis throughout the harvest. Everyone shares in the inherent risk of farming as well as in the bounty of a good harvest, and buyers are more connected to their food, to the natural season, and to the local economy. The first CSArt project was created by Springboard for the Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has since been replicated across the US as well as in Hamilton/Burlington, ON and Montreal, QC. CSArt Ottawa aims to take the best from the existing models and create a new, multidisciplinary platform –the first of its kind in Canada. Our subscribers will fund and receive work from artists in the Ottawa region, and Ottawa artists will connect with new audiences. Just as participation in Community-Shared Agriculture provides healthy, local food and a greater understanding of the local farming process, participation in our CSArt season will provide exciting local works and a greater understanding of the process and individual artists.
Period active: January 2016 – present
My role: advisory board member
Skills gained: new, interdisciplinary art board experience, active involvement in large-scale crowdfunding campaign ($50oo+)
Website: www.csartottawa.ca
