$500 to THRIVE FUNDRAISER
Akron's Educational Fine Art Printshop
KEEP US IN AKRON!
Are you an artist, creative person or just wish to support us another way? Please consider paying $500 now to our services of year long VIP RCP membership or private party paid up front!
We've made it easier for you to pay this year with Google pay, venmo and cash app!
Need help with your donation call or text 330-269-9837!
Imagine a house full of Fine Artists all supporting, creating and inspiring one another to make new portfolios, printmaking series and fine art masterpieces!
Once we purchase the house 467 West Market St. off of StewART WAY we will be ready to support artists, residences and our wonderful Akron community! Plans are underway now and the purchase will take place this year, if all goes well.
Our vision is to have a house full of local live-out Artists in Residencies that rotate every year and support the Akron community with core programming including fine art workshops, private parties, visiting artist at local schools, and one on one sessions. We will also continually recruit live-in Artists from around the United States that have graduated with their MFA in Painting, Printmaking and Fine Arts and are ready for the opportunity to make their portfolio THRIVE. They will be living in a shared space among other local artists and are provided the opportunity to teach in the local Akron, Ohio community. They will assist in supporting local internships to help AIRs with educational workshops, completing projects and maintaining a social media presence.
With your assistance as the sponsors, donors and with your pledges we plan to grow and THRIVE in the Fine Arts for years to come!
Learn more about what you are supporting below!
GOALS, PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES
Ambassador Program
Creates outreach to encompass artists on a National level by providing VIP Membership to 2-4 graduates per state and help our membership expand and thrive to new areas around the USA! This ambassador program will give back to recent graduate and help Grow, expand to our the existing membership program!
Artist in Residence: Fine Art Development Program
Once our house is full of recently graduated MFA/BFA Artists in residents we will provide a "Fine Art Development Program" that will provide a summer/fall/spring experience to local students, schools & recent high school graduates in Akron's undeserved community to help raise the level of art education being provided. We hope to match the need for art jobs with our graduates to the need for art programs in our city school system. Our goal is to one day have a funded teaching program through Akron City Schools to assist students with skill-building art techniques as well as gain knowledge of digital technology.
This is one of the programs we will provide based on observed changes in needs among our Akron community.
Currently we provide On-the-Go Art Workshops, after school lessons, and visiting artists events. This year, we were also able to visit Miller South school of Art and share printmaking experience, stories of studying abroad and providing one-on-one critique to the students to help develop their current art portfolios! We also have paid teaching opportunities for recent graduates that are participating in the RCP fine art residency programs with access to donated supplies and equipment 24/7!
Funded Painting Residency
Our goal is to create a fully funded painting residency in honor of our amazing leader, Jack McWhorter. Jack loved painting and teaching, paintings and works on paper have been exhibited both nationally and internationally. The Painting Center in New York City represents his work. He also loved using his studio at the house on 467 W. Market. We will deeply miss our mentor, teacher and true art supporter. The Jack McWhorter Painting Residency will provide one graduate with a year long residency to explore painting techniques, career coaching, have access to the printshop, and create an extended series, or portfolio.
Education
We enjoy venturing outside of our printshop to connect and host educational events around the Akron area including local schools, festivals, Akron Art museum and Akron Makerspace. We hope to continue to engage with the local Akron community and grow with our continued partnership. At Rubber City Prints we strive to be a full circle in our education program. In the studio, we offer programs for all levels of skill set, from novice to professional artist.
Exhibitions
Every year we seek a new gallery to host our exhibition "Color High" that reflects the use of color in fine art printmaking techniques and encourages our members to continually make new art to display in the Akron community. This year our board member helped curate the Women's Printmaking Invitational at Kent State University at Stark Campus, a huge success and achievement for Rubber City Prints, Inc. This exhibition curated, selected and delegated by Erica Criss, an original founder of RCP and MFA graduate of Kent State University.
Other long running exhibitions: For the Love of Printmaking, Divergent Ink, the National Alternative Print Show, Summer Arts in the Making and our Year-End Print Sale.
See more information on the exhibitions page!
Internships
Our internship program is based providing each student with career coaching every week, printshop education in three areas: development through planned training in the area of non-profit administration, marketing/public relations, and fine art development. We also have planned training in customer services, sales, outreach, and provide development training online through several reputable non-profit leadership websites.
Board of Directors
Rubber City Prints board members are provided new training offered through non-profit leadership lab, non-profit quarterly, BVU, and Network for Good. Recently we completed the BVU's 2021 Non-profit leadership Summit Series: Thriving, Inclusive, Diverse Boards; a 4 part series of leadership development training for our Board of Directors to have access to past materials! We are backed by mentors, an advisory board, and wonderful volunteers.
By donating $500 or more you help support our mission, vision and goals for the the future! Every little bit helps, support us any way you can below!
Are you an artist, creative person or just wish to support us another way? Please consider paying $500 now to our services of year long VIP RCP membership or private party paid up front!
We've made it easier for you to pay this year with Google pay, venmo and cash app!
Need help with your donation call or text 330-269-9837!
Rubber City Prints is on a mission to empower artists on a National level and to provide fine art education, development opportunities, and printshop residencies needed for the art community to thrive in Akron, Ohio.
By donating $500 or more you help support our mission, vision and goals for the the future! Every little bit helps, support us any way you can below!
Ways to Donate
So far we have raised 7,000/30,000 to buy the house on West Market St! It's season of giving! Will you help us stay in Akron forever and build our relationship with the community for years to come?