2013-528 Arts - Orange County Artist Guild for Fall 2013 Art Grant Agreement $1,500

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Arts Program Application Narrative Organizational Profile The Orange County Artists Guild (OCAG) established in 2001, is a volunteer-run, 501(c) 3 non-profit organization of 117 artist members residing in Orange County, North Carolina. The Mission of OCAG is to promote the growth and appreciation of the art and fine craft of local artists; to contribute to the vibrancy and economy of Orange County; to foster continuing arts education, growth and development of guild members; and to provide opportunities for artists to exhibit their work. The guild is governed by a volunteer board made up of OCAG members. Members donate their time and skills to organizing all guild projects and events. Current Programs and Services The Guild's purpose is to promote Orange County as a quality art destination year round by: • Hosting an annual Orange County Open Studio Tour, held the first two weekends in November; • Hosting an annual information, education and demonstration booth at Festifall for 15,000 attendees; • Maintaining a list of over 117 member artists, their contact information and the location of their studios; • Providing a website to promote OCAG members' artwork with contact information for an artist liaison to respond to queries about the guild and its artists from members of the public; • Offering an organizational Facebook page and a blog publicizing members' events and recent artwork, articles written by members about artistic process and inspiration, and a publicly accessible calendar of members' events; • Hosting quarterly meetings for local artists with educational programs and speakers; • Coordinating forums and workshops on art related topics; • Promoting and organizing self-led artist interest and learning groups. Proposed Uses of Grant Funds OCAG is respectfully asking for funding to offset a portion of the associated costs of the development and printing of a user-friendly, year-round directory of OCAG artists' artwork and contact information. While the guild successfully showcases members' art each year by hosting the annual Open Studio Tour the first two weekends in November, our goal is to expand our outreach by connecting the community with local art throughout the year by publishing a year round directory. The Studio Tour brings visitors of all ages and all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds to artists' studios. We anticipate that this same variety of art lovers will use our directory to visit artists' studios year-round. The directory will showcase the work of over 100 local OCAG artists residing in Orange County. Our present membership of 117 is comprised of 92 female and 25 male artists who come from diverse ethnic backgrounds and varied socioeconomic levels. The directory will include sample images of the work of these artists, their contact information, where