Five Questions With: Wendy Ingram

An exhibiting artist in New England and beyond, Wendy Ingram began her career in Boston in a studio at the Boston Center for the Arts. After moving to Providence six years ago, she became a co-founder and president of The Art Connection-RI in 2011. Here she discusses the value and scope of the nonprofit’s mission.

PBN: The Art Connection’s mission is to make visual art accessible to people who might not have a chance to experience art. How do you do this?
INGRAM:
We reach out to community service nonprofits in Rhode Island to let them know that we are available to provide art for their places of service. Most nonprofits do not have a budget for art and often have bare walls. Yet, art can make a big difference to create a welcoming, more vibrant atmosphere.
Many Rhode Island artists have an artwork or two in storage. They provide photos to The Art Connection-RI of the art they would like to donate.
When the nonprofits apply for art, we meet with staff to decide where the art is needed. Following the site visit, we bring a slide presentation of the available artwork for a committee of staff and clients to choose art that has meaning for them. The art selection process can be engaging and fun.
After installing the art on the walls, Melissa Lauer, East Bay Community Action Program, told us, “I wish you could have seen the smiles on everyone’s faces when we hung the art up. Thank you so much for the opportunity to display such great work.”

PBN: Why do you focus on getting donations to qualified public and nonprofit organizations?
INGRAM:
Rhode Island community service nonprofits serve many disadvantaged people – of diverse incomes, ethnicity, abilities, and ages. The art donation program is an effective way to support the work of the nonprofits by enriching their work environments with original artwork by local artists.
Amy Peters, program development Coordinator at Children’s Friend, has said, “The artwork at our Summer Street site has had such an impact on the friendliness of the space. … Artwork would be a great addition at one of our sites in Pawtucket or Central Falls, too.”
Even though Rhode Island is rich with many art organizations and galleries, the local art world doesn’t reach all parts of the community. Since most nonprofits don’t have a budget for art and often have bare walls, they represent a ready – and appreciative – audience for art by artists from the local community. Our artists are glad to know that their work is exhibited where it is appreciated and respected.

PBN: How many pieces of art have you placed so far and who are some of your recipients?
INGRAM:
In three-and-a-half years, The Art Connection-RI has placed 264 artworks at 26 nonprofits. Fifty-five local artists and donors have offered to donate 435 artworks.
Some of the art recipients are Sojourner House, Open Doors, Year Up in Providence; Progreso Latino in Central Falls; Jonnycake Center in Peace Dale; Big Brothers Big Sisters in Cranston; and EBCAP Health Center in Newport. Several community health centers have received art.
The Art Connection-RI is reaching out to all of the state with the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership in Warwick and AIDS Care of Ocean State in Providence, the next two organizations scheduled for art selection sessions.
To show their appreciation, the nonprofit art recipients send thank you letters to the artists and are encouraged to invite them to an art reception at their premises. The artists are generally invited to see their work in place at any time during business hours. The nonprofits send out press releases about receiving the art, highlight it in their newsletters, mention it in their annual reports and add links to the websites of the artists and The Art Connection-RI.
In addition, The Art Connection-RI holds an annual BBQ in the summer to honor and thank the artists and donors.

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PBN: As a small nonprofit, what fund raising methods do you use to ensure that you get the support you need to continue your work?
INGRAM
: From the beginning, The Art Connection-RI has been fortunate to have grant support from The Fay Slover Fund and a small grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. We look to all available funding sources including grants and donations, our annual Celebration of Art in Rhode Island fundraiser in April and a funding appeal.
Our fourth annual Celebration of Art in Rhode Island on April 22, 2015, will be full of surprises and lots of fun.
This fall, the Board of The Art Connection-RI has embarked on a three-year strategic plan funded by the Rhode Island Foundation. The aim is to strengthen our organization for the long term.

PBN: As president, what is your vision for the organization’s future?
INGRAM:
My vision is for The Art Connection-RI to grow to reach more nonprofits and artists and to strengthen the organization for the long term. To date, we are all volunteers. We want to increase our funding to hire an administrator to keep things humming smoothly.
Our plan will enable us to increase the number of nonprofits we can serve by placing many more artworks where they will be viewed and appreciated by hundreds and thousands of Rhode Island residents. Our talented artists deserve to be valued and treasured by all of our citizens.
We are exploring ways to follow up on art placements at nonprofits with activities that will further enrich the community.

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