This summer, in partnership with mnartists.org, Springboard for the Arts launched Community Supported Art (CSA).  CSA is based on the community supported agriculture model and aims to directly connect artists and art patrons.  The CSA program supports artists and creates a community of engaged local arts supporters.  CSA supports artists: in the creation of new work, to establish relationships with local collectors and patrons, and to participate in the launch of an exciting new model of art support and distribution.  CSA Share member benefits include multiple works of art from local emerging and mid-career artists at a fantastic value! Additionally, CSA Share members have the opportunity to develop relationships with the local artists and art community, discover new artists, explore a variety of disciplines and support artists’ careers and a vibrant community.

The response to this experiment has been more than we ever could have imagined.  We are so encouraged that other people see the value of connecting the local food and art communities and are interested in replicated CSArt in their own regions.  We are working on a handbook to help people replicate the project – it will be available on our website (www.springboardforthearts.org) in the next few weeks.

Art Beat, the blog of the PBS NewsHour did a great piece on our project.  NewsHour is also supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.