RedLine is a proud partner and administrator of the Arts in Society grant. This collaborative program provides grants to both individuals and organizations that use art as a vehicle to promote social justice and community welfare.

We love highlighting our Arts in Society (AiS) grant recipients and all the unique and impactful projects made possible by their grant.

We’re excited continue this series with the 2022 AiS Grantee: The Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.) project by Access Gallery!

Learn all about the A.R.T. project and how it empowers artists who lack the articulate use of their hands to fully direct the artmaking process.

Tell us about Access Gallery

Access Gallery is an inclusive nonprofit organization that engages the community by opening doors to creative, educational and economic opportunities for people with disabilities to access, experience and benefit from the arts.

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People with disabilities experience a 70% unemployment rate and artists with disabilities are no exception. Access Gallery employs a social enterprise model to focus on creativity as an asset rather than disability as a deficit.

We advance our mission in three ways:

Access Gallery, a professional gallery space located in the heart of the Arts District on Santa Fe featuring and selling the work of local and national artists with disabilities.
Access Studio, an inclusive, free community studio where artists build their skill sets across a variety of visual arts mediums.
Access Creative Services, a social enterprise that provides a wide range of services including but not limited to graphic design services, corporate art commissions, and murals among others.

“We believe art has the power to bring people together, break down social barriers, and open inclusive spaces for our community to connect with and learn from each other. ”

Tell us about your first project that will utilize your AiS grant: Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.)

Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.) empowers artists who lack the articulate use of their hands to fully direct the artmaking process from start to finish.

This is accomplished through the aid of a tracker: a person who is assigned to be a conduit for the artist to transfer their creative thoughts to the canvas. Facilitated painting using A.R.T. empowers artists to transcend physical limitations and share their creativity.

A.R.T was founded over 25 years ago by visual artist Tim Lefens and the program operates in 27 studios across the United States. Thanks to generous funding received through Arts in Society, Access Gallery has brought the long-awaited program to Denver. This year we set up a studio at The Easterseals Vestal Center and began working with three artists, Brandon, Corey, and Stevie.

These artists attend a day program at the center that focuses on group activities and the support of individual goals, skill building, socialization, and community inclusion. We also work with a fourth artist, Jeffrey, at Access Gallery Studio and online.

Each artist and tracker pairing is unique and based on the participant’s abilities. Stevie uses a laser pointer and non-verbal cues to direct his tracker. He also uses traditional and non-traditional tools to directly paint on his canvas while his tracker holds the canvas at the right distance, angle, and position.

Corey uses a system that incorporates the use of a yardstick. The tracker holds the yardstick vertically against the canvas and slides it across until the artist signals to stop. The tracker then slides a paintbrush from the top down, or bottom up, until the artist signals to again stop. Different marks are made at each point including lines, circles, and waves.

Brandon directs his tracker verbally by requesting various objects to be painted. His tracker brings resource imagery to each session and allows Brandon to choose the perfect object to paint such as a grandfather clock, swimming pool, and rollercoaster.

Jeffrey’s experience has been a journey of experimentation. His earlier acrylic paintings utilized compositions that were both objective and non-objective. Next, he guided his tracker to find specific disparate imagery online to create a cohesive acrylic painting in a realism style. Currently, he is working with his tracker through virtual chat to create digital compositions.

What's next in the pipeline for Access Gallery? What other projects are you dreaming up for next year, and how will your AiS grant help to support these efforts?

Access Gallery is kicking off 2023 with an exhibition of artworks created by participants in the Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.) program. The exhibition is titled Heart and Soul and features works created by Brandon, Corey, Jeffrey, and Stevie. Friday, January 20 from 6 - 8 PM we hosted our official Meet the Artists Opening Reception with an artist talk. On Friday, February 17 from 6 - 8 PM an artist/tracker pairing will work live in Access Gallery to create a 24 x 24” painting that will be available for sale.

We will continue to support artists with disabilities with a roster of exciting exhibitions, residencies, and programs for our artists and the greater disabled community across Colorado. Exhibitions include a feature of Access Gallery Artist AJ which will celebrate the many achievements that he has made over the years. This show will be displayed alongside the A.R.T. exhibition. We are also planning a photography show during Month of Photography, a fiber exhibition later in the year, and our annual 99 Pieces fundraising event, to name a few.

Every year Access Gallery has a summer program that works with students with disabilities aged 18-21 who are transitioning into the next phase of their lives. The participants team up with mentors to learn career skills and take part in workshops to refine their artmaking techniques.

In 2023, participants will learn the art of collage and their work will be featured in an exhibition in our gallery. Participants will also work with graphic designers to create posters that tackle the subject of bullying.

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What was your experience like when applying for an AiS? What tips would you share with artists looking to apply for an AiS grant?

We found the application process to be straightforward and easy to navigate. The staff at RedLine were always willing to help if we ran into a problem. We would encourage future applicants to think big! Explore what is at the core of your idea and amplify it.

If you have an idea, reach out to the staff at Redline or another grantee. This is such a wonderful opportunity for creatives to branch out and try something new.

Meet Another Arts in Society Grantee: Vision of the Artist’s Soul

Vision of the Artist’s Soul is an after-school Tactile Art program for Blind and Visually-Impaired (BVI) students across different school districts in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs counties.

Learn more about Vision of the Artist’s Soul >