IMPACT
While downtown Montgomery Alabama is exploding with art activity and an abundance of resources, evidence has shown that several artists, (particularly in West Montgomery and other areas on the margin of the city) lack formal networks, access to tools, and free studio space to freely create or display their work. Furthermore, many of these artists have not received the formal entrepreneurial training, life skill development training, affordable studio space, and exhibition space needed for their talents to thrive.
The King’s Canvas provides artists on the West Side and other areas on the margins of the city with comparable resources so they too can thrive from their talents. Creative Placemaking strategies are positioning The King’s Canvas to cultivate economic development in West Montgomery, which will have positive outcomes in the health and public safety of the community.
What we do falls within two brushstrokes
Our first brushstroke is EXPOSURE.
To fulfill our mission, we utilize our resources as an organization, studio, and gallery, to increase exposure to local under developed and underexposed artists in our programs. We have quarterly art shows, host or co-host local events that include an art component, and facilitate opportunities for underexposed artists to be at the table of community events they ordinarily wouldn’t have access to.
We also work to expose adults and children on the West side to art as a means of financial support. We partner with local high schools to host art classes, conduct art classes for adults who live in Washington Park, Gibbs Village, and surrounding communities, and have open studio time for members of our community to cultivate artistic skill and technique. We also hold classes and events featuring established Montgomery artists who teach our artists various artistic techniques. So we expose under exposed artists to opportunities and markets as well as expose the wider West Montgomery community to art in general.
EXPOSURE impact
Over 150 children have gone through our art classes.
Over 100 artists have participated in our artist exposure events.
Our second brushstroke is DEVELOPMENT.
The development of the artists in our program is tantamount to what we are hoping to fulfill in our mission. Entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and the tools to have art as a sustainable income is an important component for building up artists and West Montgomery in economic health. Art can have expensive startup costs, so we conduct art drives and provide artists in our programming with art supplies to get started and keep their operational costs low while they get to a stable financial position.
Through the efforts of our activities combined, we are working to see the community development for West Montgomery as a whole. The King’s Canvas is a creative placemaking organization. “Creative Placemaking” engages diverse people and the arts in designing and planning projects that reflect, celebrate, and inspire local culture, heritage, and values within a community. It strategically shapes the physical and social character of a neighborhood or city to improve economic development and social change. Simply put, it gives the arts a seat at the community development table. Research shows, it’s effective. Our own city shows it’s effective. We believe it will be effective once again, in West Montgomery.
DEVELOPMENT impact
15 murals by King’s Canvas artists have been commissioned across the city.
5 art supply drives since the pandemic.
Over 300 people have received art supplies.
Over 80 small business owners, including artists have also been part of our entrepreneurship development classes.
Providing access and opportunities to underdeveloped artists is our goal. We believe if we create an environment where equitable practices are implemented, it will be mutually beneficial to our city as well as the artist. The King’s Canvas is a first step in preparation of connecting under resourced artists with more opportunities in the broader art community in Montgomery. These opportunities combat poverty, lack of education, lack of resources and mental health. Connectivity in our city, state, nation and the world is what is needed to propel their work or their brand.
