Donation Statement

BTAF depends for its mission and productive work on the financial support of those who share our vision of life and art. Donations can be made payable to BlueTower Arts Foundation. Such donations are federally recognized, 501c3 tax deductions.

Donation of Materials

We have immediate need for the following physical items:

  • Physical Location for studios/ office space
  • Mac computer with OS X or better.
  • Office Software- Mircosoft Office suite for Mac or Mac iWorks
  • Adobe CS3 or better (specifically Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Flash)
  • External Hard drive for back-ups

Historically, the serious patrons of the arts were wealthy, privileged, and as often as not, politically powerful. Though the modern forms are different and shaped by present world economic structures and market realities, in most ways this kind of patronage remains today.

BTAF believes a different, more practical and realistic concept of patronage is in order. In point of fact, if embraced by a relatively small number of our “arts interested” friends, such a new understanding of patronage would successfully provide a stable foundation of support for our mission.

What is required to participate in a different form of patronage, one that is relevant to even small personal and family budgets, is the realization that:

1) young, emerging artists typically cannot mature into gifted, mature art makers because they do not have the necessary support / patronage. The dominant media-saturated, commercial market culture does provide the means of allowing a young artist the necessary patronage / support for his or her growth in knowledge, understanding and maturity in their art practice.

Nicolas Fraser of the BBC notes a challenge concerning film documentaries that can equally be applied to other art forms: “People pay money for the pleasure of escaping from reality, not for the privilege of confronting it.” This statement suggests that if we desire art that does more than provide escape, we need to find ways to encourage it by helping gifted young artists in spite of the realities of a consumer market.

2) The fact is, most of us find ways and means of giving financially to those causes that we find close to our hearts. In this case, if you find yourself believing that helping to mentor young artists, help them mature in their understanding and talent, facilitate their success in finding ways to make art that impacts the world, then your support, small as it might seem, can contribute significantly to the mission of BTAF.

3) When you see us use the word patron, know that we’re not thinking of wealthy philanthropists who buy art (though we’d love an introduction if you know one!), but anyone who cherishes, values, and respects art, and in anyway they can, acts on that perspective.

How even you can help!

In light of the perspective expressed above, the leaders of BTAF believe the following strategy offered below will put BTAF’s work on stable financial footing for effective expansion. BTAF makes this proposal and request for your thoughtful consideration:

We call it the “25 x 10 / 25 x 15 / 25 x 25 patronage strategy”.

For the next year, would you consider becoming either a “25 x 10”, “25 x 15”, or “25 x 25” patron of BTAF’s mission? Twenty-five new patrons who pledge and give $10 per month will yield $250 of monthly support. Twenty-five new patrons who pledge and give $15 per month will yield $375 of monthly support. Twenty-five new patrons who will pleadge and give $25 per month will yield $625 of monthly support. This will result in $1250 in montly financial support. It is certainly possible that some can and will give a bit more. But with these smaller amounts of personal patronage BlueTower Arts can begin looking for a new physical art space facility to use for office, studio, library, mentoring and gallery exhibitions.

Thank you sincerely for your consideration of participating!

  • Wes Hurd, President
  • Courtney Stubbert, Director of Development