One thing that is driving me to attend TRIPNOTICA on Sunday night at the Delancy is the Art For Progress group that’s participating.   I guess I’ll attend if but to make contact with Art For Progress (and maybe the rest of the music, club atmosphere, people, drinks, etc).

Now, you can view artforprogress.org and see what benefits you get for the 150.00 per year, USD, membership fee.  Here’s what AFP has to say about itself - it’s a long rant but worth reading:

“….Life as an artist isn’t easy. We’re comfortable with our talent and abilities as artists. We enjoy creating, communicating, and socializing through our art. But we all struggle with the everyday business challenges that are also a part of our world. One of the biggest of those challenges is learning how to market ourselves.

Sooner or later, every artist realizes that talent isn’t a guarantee for success. Whether a painter, photographer, musician, fashion designer, filmmaker or DJ, we all confront the same obstacles in the marketplace: we’re competing with a huge pool of unbelievable talent, and we’re all trying to get exposure and respect for our work.

Art For Progress is for serious artists who are ready to take a step forward and become part of a dynamic arts community. A community that offers many opportunities for exposure and links to the wider art world. A community that is creating a comprehensive, diverse arts program. A community that provides valuable resources to enable you to set and reach your goals – whatever those goals may be.

Although AFP launched it’s opening about two years ago, we already have more than a few success stories. Photographer Gabe Kirchheimer—whose groundbreaking Burning Man festival pictures were exhibited at AFP’s holiday 2004 fundraiser—was featured in the New York Times’ Arts & Leisure section preview of the event. Subsequently, the National Arts Club hosted his solo show in March 2005, and the Leipzig Museum of Contemporary art will include his work in a winter 2006 exhibition. At the other end of the arts spectrum, the work of innovative fashion designers Allyson Jacobs and Ashaka Givens—whose spring 2006 clothing lines debuted at AFP’s “The Art of Design” September 2005 event—was highlighted in two Women’s Wear Daily photo spreads following the show. And most recently, painter Juan Manuel Pajares has experienced a great deal of success back at home in Spain where thru his exposure and relationship with Art For Progress he has sold over fifty paintings in the last 6 months.

If you decide to become a part of the AFP community, as our presence grows you will grow with us. We are making a difference for artists not only by introducing their work, but also by conveying to the public the things that artists stand for and are passionate about. Things like inspiration, hope, and the realization of a dream. “

Yes, I do want to speak to AFP and I suggest all artists, particularly in New York, look them up as it sounds like they’re trying to address a lot of different issues that artists have in one package, with the marketing, grants, studio space, shows, health insurance - it sounds like a noble undertaking - one worth supporting.

Strictly speaking, most of the things AFP offers you can go out and get on your own but I’m suspecting, the real thing AFP offers in Community and that’s a big deal if your really into being part of an online artists’ community.  

I’ll have more to say about Art For Progress once I’ve spoken to them.