It's not easy being a nonprofit these days. It's a part of the gig; not profiting from what you do, but instead helping others.
But it's hard to do if you're not supported by the community, said Signal Mountain artist Robin Howe. She recently took a grant writing class and was looking for more ways to get involved and help the community. With the help of Community Foundation and the Chattanooga Market, she came up with the idea to have an art show benefiting small local nonprofits.
"I was talking to the Community Foundation, and Robin Posey there told me that it seemed like all these local nonprofits were creating art and it was just sitting," Howe said. "So we thought it'd be great to find a place to get this art out there."
Howe, who has been a part of the Chattanooga Market for years, initially pursued the market as a place to set up a booth with nonprofit artwork.
"The Chattanooga Market focuses on one artist and it's juried and all that," said Howe. "But [market manager] Chris Thomas told me about the WorkSpace, who had this first floor but wasn't sure what they wanted to do with it, and it just came together."
That space, at 302 W. Sixth St., will transform into an open art studio Oct. 3 and Nov. 7 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. where nonprofits like TennSEA, Amani Africa and Signal Centers will be represented by their artists, selling their work and bringing awareness to their causes.
"The whole point is to help them be self-sustaining, so they'll be selling their artwork in order to raise money for things like art supplies," Howe said. "It's not only about selling but also the artists' self esteem."
Having a handful of small nonprofits in the same space could also generate collaboration, she added.
Howe will be selling some prints of her own art to benefit the Kidney Foundation, a nonprofit she works with.
"I remember the first time I sold a piece and it made me so happy and I was so excited," she said. "I'd love for that to happen for these artists and I'd love to see this continue past November."
The Chattanooga Folk School will be providing music for the event, and the Community Foundation will provide wine and hors d'oeuvres.
For more information email robinhowe.art@gmail.com.