Shoppers can find unique pieces, just in time for holiday gift giving — many at bargain prices. The sale begins very early (literally at dawn) and runs until twelve noon.

It’s sort of like art adoption. We want to find people to adopt these pieces and love them,” Cindy O’Brien, Director of the Art Factory said. So many of the board members and artists who donated pieces had purchased or made and loved them for many years. But tastes change, people move and marry and separate, and artwork that may have worked in one setting stops suiting when the background changes. The work is more than someone else’s cast-offs. It’s a collective history of Augusta’s art lovers and it showcases a lifetime of learning and growing with the visual arts community.

Source: Metro Spirit

“Lacey was very emotional, and art was another way for her to express her feelings, whether hard feelings or joyful ones,” said her mom, Nancy Jarrell. “After her dad and I divorced, she spent a lot of time doing art,” Jarrell continued. “She was very social, but she also liked to hang out alone. She enjoyed having her pad and painting.”

Lacey died in a car accident on July 6, 2006 in Tuscon close to her home. Her mother created the Lacey Jarrell Foundation to remember her daughter.

The foundation will hold their first fundraiser on Thursday, November 2nd. It will be held at Green Star Art in Tucson and it will focus on the artistic expressions of local teens and young adults aged 13 through 21. The works are using many creative mediums, including photography, drawing, watercolor, oils and ceramics.

The Green Star Art event will include an art show and a poetry reading. There will also be a wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres from Fox Restaurants. Lacey worked at Fox Restaurants as a hostess. The event will also feature a silent auction and music from the John Rondstadt Trio and Peter McLaughlin and Friends.

Funds raised will benefit student art programs in Lacey’s memory. The Lacey Jarrell Foundation provides educational and creative opportunities to Tuscon youths.

Source: Tuscon Citizen

The first one is Art to Remember. They will take the kids pictures and print them on pillows, calendars, coasters, keychains, mugs, and a lot more.

Kids are proud to see their works of art showcased on our products, especially when given as gifts to family and friends. ATR also keeps students safe by eliminating door-to-door sales.

The other one is Original Works. They have lots of items too, even Christmas ornaments, quilt blocks and a night light.

Once the artwork is completed, the school/organization assembles an Artwork Package for each student. This package includes the artwork, order form, full color brochure and a customized letter describing the program.

I haven’t personally used either of these programs, but check out this forum discussion for some comments from those who have. From just reviewing the websites it looks like a good program, great idea. Only thing that is not on either site is what percentage the school earns. The products themselves should priced affordably so parents, nanas and others can afford the items. There should also be a good percentage of commission going back to the school. Check it out but be sure to ask about the profit percentage!

Hirsch was speaking about Artwork for Education, a fresh approach to school fundraising that is getting the attention of educators across the country. The program showcases student art on the front of full-color custom greeting cards and credits the artist by first name, age and school. Schools are spending the proceeds on everything from computer lab equipment to maintaining art, music and physical education programs.

Even though it’s an easy sell to parents, school officials are also enthused about a fundraising program that puts art back into the classroom. At Oak Hills Elementary in Ventura County, Calif., Principal Leslie Heilbron said, “It allowed our children to be creative and expressive with artwork. We’ve incorporated it into our art curriculum.”

Artwork for Education is the creation of Long Beach-based Worldwise Education (WE), a new breed of for-profit company with a socially responsible mission. “Our goal is to enhance public education across the country by merging entrepreneurial spirit with educational philanthropy,” said CEO Charles Paul, who founded WE in 2003. “Artwork for Education is a win-win-win program for students, schools and consumers because it supports art, builds students’ self-esteem, raises critically needed funds and provides communities with products that feature their children’s art.”

To help sustain each school’s ability to generate funds year-round, WE added a web-based component that catalogs every school’s artwork and enables online purchases for up to one year. In addition, a retail partner program allows local merchants to sell individual cards and share the proceeds with schools.

“The Internet and retail programs are particularly effective because schools continue to make money with no additional work,” said Paul. “As Artwork for Education expands, we can fund our future educational programs.”

The cornerstone of Paul’s long-term vision is WExchange, a web site currently under development that will provide teachers with access to donated and low-cost school supplies obtained from individuals, retailers’ overstock and manufacturers’ excess inventory.

“Eventually, WExchange will host webcasts and interactive learning modules as well,” said Paul. “We intend to become a flagship company for both educators and retailers.”

If reaction to Artwork for Education is any indicator, the company is well on its way to achieving that goal. More than 160 schools nationwide have signed on for the current school year and over 100,000 cards have been sold in the last three months. Parents are understandably enthusiastic, but recognition is also coming from educational leaders in high places.

“Promoting arts education and the artwork of students are terrific goals in and of themselves,” said Massachusetts Commissioner of Education David Driscoll. “Adding the ability of schools and districts to raise significant funds in these most difficult times is also most important.”

Artwork for Education also addresses another area of concern, according to Lisa Belton, board president of the Spreckels Union School District in northern California. “Schools are responding to the national mandate that we prioritize the health and physical well being of our students,” she said. “We have asked our parent groups to respond by cutting down the amount of junk food fundraisers we use to raise money. This art fundraiser has accomplished that goal.”

About Worldwise Education
Worldwise Education, Inc. (WE) is a privately held for-profit corporation whose mission is to provide schoolchildren everywhere with equal access to learning opportunities by supplying schools, teachers and students with educational materials and resources that are in critical need. For more information, contact Worldwise Education, Inc., (562) 595-9600, or visit the website at www.WorldwiseEducation.com.