To learn more, visit us at http://artistsunion.net We are a community-based, independent, all-volunteer organization, run by artists, for artists. We have three members on our Board: Blossom Savolainen, President; Heather Nashif-Noland, Vice-President, and Kristoffer Godwin, CTO/Acting Secretary. We have a "home base" location provided us by NXT Industries Co-Working Space, and are supported by a
variety of local artists, allies and businesses in the Portland area. Our current funding is through contributions from the Board, fundraising events, and donated goods, time and services from our volunteers, artists and local supporting businesses. We plan to launch paid memberships in 2017, as well as host more fundraising and outreach efforts to support our current operating expenses and budgetary needs. As of March 2017, we are in the process of constructing our long-term volunteer staff team, and we are seeking volunteers who'd like to serve as CEO/Executive Manager, Marketing Manager, Volunteer Manager, Secretary/Treasurer, Legal Advisor, as well as those who'd like to help out with events, flyering, networking, presentations and getting the word out there! Please contact us at:
[email protected]
if you'd like more information on ways you can help contribute. Artists' Union Local 503 was founded as of May 1st, 2016, as a community-based organization focused on advocating for the fair treatment and well-being of Portland's independent working artists. We are in the process of applying for formal 501(c)6 status as a Trade Union/Association in 2017. We formed based on our collective personal & professional experience of having felt marginalized, unsupported, and unfairly treated in our independent creative careers, as well as having witnessed the gentrification of the Portland Metro area that has led to a number of creative professionals being forced to leave the area due to rapidly rising housing & work space costs. We have endured despite historic harassment of, and attempts to control or shut down, street artists and creative folk in the Pearl District and on NE Alberta Street. We have adapted and continued to participate and contribute to our community in constructive ways, despite attempts by the City to make public mural art a crime, imposition of the Arts Tax that does not discriminate between taking money from working artists vs. the average citizen, and having our community arts gallery spaces shut down to make way for moneyed development. We hold out a hope and a vision that the factors that have made Portland, Oregon one of the most successful cultural tourism destinations for the past decade, will continue to be available to those of us that have contributed our efforts to it: Progressive values, inclusive community spirit, cooperation and synergy to produce exhibitions, events and education that is accessible to artists and the public at all levels, and innovative thinking that helps integrate the arts and culture into our every day lives in ways that are meaningful and inspiring. This vision, and these values, when put together with a structure based on the successful operating models of Freelance & Creative Unions in the U.S., the British Isles and elsewhere; solidarity of the creative community, and support from local business and social sectors, can only help guarantee that we can make Portland, Oregon one of THE best places to be a successful, full-time Working Artist. JOIN US to help support this vision, and our long-term agenda of one day bringing a successful operating model of an Artists' Union to ALL the cities in the U.S.
