The ARTDOCS Rx Lottery Grant Program

For Immediate Release

(New Orleans) – Today, ARTDOCS and The Idea Village announce the ARTDOCS Rx lottery grant program to support the creative economy in New Orleans by providing forty $1000 lottery assistance grants for artists to use for help with rebuilding studios, replacing lost equipment and purchasing necessary art supplies. The grants are intended for full-time artists as a way to further stimulate and solidify cultural tourism in New Orleans .

ARTDOCS , Artists Receiving Treatment Doctors Offering Crucial Services, is a New Orleans-based non-profit organization designed to provide no-cost medical care for visual artists, writers and performing artists without health insurance. ARTDOCS expanded its mission post-Katrina to aid in the repatriation and rebuilding of the arts in New Orleans . The Idea Village is a non-profit business accelerator whose mission is to encourage innovation and provide focused resources to accelerate entrepreneurial ventures in New Orleans.

The catalyst of this relationship stems from the triage grants awarded to innovative entrepreneurs by The Idea Village. Jonathan Ferrara gallery received a $4,000 shipping grant to support “New Orleans Artists in Exile” traveling exhibition of more than 20 artists. Now, Ferrara has again partnered with The Idea Village in its “pay it forward” program whereby entrepreneurs that have received assistance assist other local entrepreneurs.

ARTDOCS support for this project comes from national fundraising efforts and generous donations from James Michalopoulos, Jonathan Ferrara gallery, The Sweet ART Katrina Fund, Chris Rose and many more. A matching donation was given by the Professional Convention Management Association (PMCA), which partnered with The Idea Village to execute an innovative program in support of the local cultural economy and small businesses. Through a public lottery drawing, forty $1000 grants will be allocated to visual artists, writers and performing artists . The grants will be awarded to full-time performing and studio artists who plan to continue their creative existence in New Orleans .

ATRDOCS Rx Grants are available for full time working artists living in Orleans Parish. In an effort to support and sustain the local economy, all grant dollars must be spent with an Orleans Parish owned and operated business.

Additional information and applications can be obtained by visiting www.artdocs.com or www.ideavillage.org or picked up at The Idea Village offices ( 638 Camp Street ) or Jonathan Ferrara Gallery ( 841 Carondelet Street ).

On Saturday, April 21 at 11am at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, ARTDOCS and The Idea Village will host a public lottery to randomly select the grant winners. Artistic entrepreneurs are invited to bring their completed applications between 11am and 3pm. Eligible applicants will be included in a grant pool and winners will be drawn at 4 pm by renowned painter,James Michalopoulos. Artists, entrepreneurs and the community of supporters are invited to watch the lottery and join in the celebration of the New Orleans cultural economy. Refreshments will be served .

 ARTDOCS is a pioneering 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, founded in 1999 to address the critical need of uninsured visual artists, writers and performing artists in New Orleans . Since its inception, ARTDOCS has provided over 2,200 artist/patient visits. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, ARTDOCS has expanded its mission to help artists return to New Orleans .

The Idea Village is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to encourage a culture of innovation and provide focused tools and resources to accelerate entrepreneurial ventures in New Orleans . Since its formal inception in 2002, The Idea Village has become the primary driver for entrepreneurship in New Orleans , supported by more than 500 individuals, corporations, local foundations, Tulane University , University of New Orleans , Greater New Orleans , Inc., the City of New Orleans , and the State of Louisiana .

To make a donation in support of ARTDOCS, please visit www.artdocs.com.

 

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