PASC END OF THE YEAR 2023 NEWSLETTER

Warm Greetings Everyone,

We hope this newsletter finds you well. Year-end letters exist both to remark on the year behind us and to set goals for the future. Although for the global world this has been a tough year we hope that PASC can represent a glimmer of tangible positivity. As we enter our fourth year of programming, we continue to present a program, a workshop, and a community driven by exuberant affirmation. Through the production and exhibition of artwork, PASC increases individual self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth. We continue to endeavor to elevate disability as common, normal, and as imperfect as us all, and to platform and champion disabled artists, as simply…artists, talented professionals to be celebrated for their contributions to our culture. And this year, like years past, we are beyond thankful to you, our community for the support we have received to make this possible.

PASC artist Robert Duncombe presenting his artwork with PASC Art Advisor Eleni Zaharopoulos during an group artist critique at PASC

PASC ARTISTS GROWTH

At years end PASC is working with over 180 artists with disabilities across our three studios in Westland, Southgate and Detroit. This is a big group for a program that started only 3 years ago. But what these high participation numbers suggest is a demand for creative and independent programming for disabled adults in Detroit and Wayne County, who, despite having a very high per-capita rate of disability, have never had a progressive/supported art studio program prior.

Our artists have shown tremendous growth in their creativity and artistic abilities, as well as their overall focus and individual responsibility. This is a testament to the social benefits of a program which allows for sustained moments of uninterrupted contemplation, lowering individual stress and anxiety, particularly for a population that is not always given opportunities to express themselves, create independently, and present their artistic creations to the public. And our staff continues to grow in their support for our artists with patience, care and integrity. Continually striving to improve the studio environment and the support they provide to for our artists.

Interior of PASC Detroit's future art studio under construction December 2023, in the LANTERN building.

PASC DETROIT LANTERN NEARING COMPLETION

In studio news we are on the precipice of moving into our first independent studio and our first permanent gallery in the LANTERN building, at 9301 Kercheval Ave, Detroit, a mixed use arts building in Southeast Detroit, and a project of Anthony and JJ Curis of Library Street Collective. Construction of this building is taking longer than expected but we are confident that once we are fully settled (late winter 2024, fingers crossed), PASC Detroit LANTERN will be an incredible landmark for our program and for the Southeast Michigan disability population.

Our goals for this space, and for the future of PASC, is to not only to support a more inclusive art studio open to the public and engaging with the Detroit artist community, but to fully establish our PASC Detroit gallery within the Detroit gallery scene, the first permanent gallery dedicated to artists with disabilities. We plan to run new exhibitions every six to eight weeks, to provide more opportunities for our artist to show and sell their artwork, and build a committed collector base.

PASC Art Advisor Hannah Lilly with PASC artist Ronald Griggs next to Ronald's artwork in Intimacy at MOCAD

PASC artists from left to right, Dale Roberts, Ronald Griggs, Eric Green, Keisha Miller, Jovontae Stewart, in "Intimacy" at MOCAD

EXHIBITIONS AND SALES + INTIMACY @ MOCAD  

Our exhibitions and sales in 2023 have continued to be strong. 79 PASC artists exhibited in 11 local exhibitions, 3 national exhibitions, and 6 local art fairs and events. We sold almost $28,000 of PASC artwork and products. By the end of 2024 we hope to double these sales figures to almost $60,000.

One of the exhibition we are most proud of is “Intimacy: The Artistic Community of PASC” at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD). This is not only PASC’s first ever museum show it is the first major museum exhibition in the Detroit area featuring all artists with disabilities. This show opened on December 2^nd featuring over 30 PASC artists. It has been visited by numerous local audiences as well as frequent trips by PASC participants to see their artworks exhibited in this museum, and it is still open drop by to see the exhibition today!

And mark your calendars for a forthcoming exhibition walk through on January 12, at 6:30pm with curators Abel González Fernández, Assistant Curator at MOCAD, Anthony Marcellini, PASC Program Manager, and several PASC artists.

And all artworks in this exhibition are also available for purchase on PASC's website, should you see something that excites you.

GRANTS AND SUPPORT

We received tremendous support from our community this past year in the form of grants and individuals donations. We received four grants from the following organizations Michigan Arts and Cultural Council (MACC), Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan (CFSEM), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a two-year grant that will go into effect this winter, and a matching grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). PASC also launched its first fundraising campaign through Patronicity and MEDC, where we raised over $50,000 in two months to support PASC's new studio and gallery being buildout in the LANTERN building in Detroit.

Yet we still need your help. Please consider donating to PASC before this year, there is still time.

You can make a financial donation to PASC at this link. Make sure to select PASC from the dropdown menu. Or you can send a check to Services to Enhance Potential (with PASC written on the check) to 2941 S. Gulley Road, Dearborn, MI 48124-3160.

Or contact us directly progressiveart@stepcentral.org to talk about how you would like to be involved.

We also accept material donations, everything from lightly used art supplies, art equipment and furniture, and art books. Please email a description and an image of what you would like to donate to progressiveart@stepcentral.org.

Or you can purchase something for our studio artists via our wish lists at at Blick or Amazon.

Thank you  

PASC and STEP 

www.progressiveartstudiocollective.org

www.stepcentral.org



Progressive Art Studio Collective is a program of Services to Enhance Potential (STEP) a non profit organization which provides support and services to over 1,400 persons with developmental disabilities and mental health differences in Wayne County.

@ProgressiveArtStudioCollective