Welcome to the Spin Mosaic Full Disclosure Manifesto. This is a lot of words, right?
These are crucially important words, though. Just like the Constitution of the United States, these words are drafted with great intention towards a specific purpose and hope of longevity.
This may be counter-cultural. This may even limit our market. It's okay. Artists are like this sometimes. We are visionary. We are different. Just roll with it! A Full Disclosure is central to our business model approach. We hope this line of thinking is a breath of fresh air. What does this mean for you?
--You know our cost lines.
--You know our profit margins.
--You know where we source our materials from and why.
--You know where profits are going.
--You know who created each work of art you purchase.
--You will know each student's future goals that your purchase is supporting.
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1) Original Art: The history and value of original artisanship and sole ownership of 1-of-a-kind unique works of Fine Art (created by hand vs. mass produced) will be upheld in the physical gallery space towards the elevation of the creator, the created and the purchaser of the artwork (this is the elegant part!).
2) Prints in alternate (fun) forms will be available online (stickers, merch...) within limited editions and product offerings in accordance to seasons and students ideas (and inventory funding). We will switch it up a lot! So...stay tuned.
3) Spin Mosaic+: The original Spin Mosaic technique will comprise a majority of ongoing niche' artwork serving our 100+ Lakes community ("Makers for the Lakers") with new collections and student representation arising from Drawing, Painting and Ceramics classes.
4) Costlines: Each artwork collection will provide a full disclosure statement regarding materials sourcing, costlines and profit margins. Should our audience choose to purchase higher than our costlines, overages/donations will help support gallery costs and new initiatives. *The school is NOT PROFITING. Profits are returned to student artists to support their future and educational goals.
5) Revenue generation: will function parallel to art gallery models in the modern visual arts industry (30-50% commission fees standard) with a goal to raise student profit to a minimum of 80% return through donations, recycled materials, grants and benefactors.
6) Location/Times: WHS is generously providing a public-accessible location in the CTE building of Wawasee High School. This space will serve as the "mother ship" location for created inventory with once-a-month public openings. Representation in local businesses and Pop-up Shops within the Kosciusko County/Wawasee School Corporation area will extend purchase opportunity and awareness year-round into our community as we grow.
7) Materials we create with will be responsibly sourced from our community to reduce waste, recycle or upcycle with intention towards environmental responsibility and community-based relationships.
8) Affiliates (print partners or materials) will uphold fair trade laws and labor equality within the supply chain inasmuch as we are able to proactively research.
9) This is the BIG ONE: Marketing. It's up to you if this marketing plan deletes us or elevates us to the heavens. We believe in friend-raising; not fund-raising. Pretty risky! The Gallery will not spend a penny on marketing in light of a desire for greater profits to return to our student artists and their future goals. We choose to believe and test the theory that a good idea started by good-hearted kids can carry momentum and shine brightly within it's own light. We would rather be a hidden treasure in our community supported by those who believe that art, artists, beauty, creation, visual analogy and visionary ideas can and do make a positive difference and are worthy of attention and investment without the common marketing hype. We would rather have 50 enthusiastic supporters 100%-in supporters than 500 who view our gallery as a momentary novelty and move on to the next thing tomorrow. If you like what we do, talk about it and share it. We are artists. We will make the art. You get the word out, okay?
10) Community focus: we are not here to change the world, sell to the world, or become the next Tic-Tock sensation. We are here to make a positive difference in our school right here--right now--within our own community. We make here. We sell here. If you like what we do and how we do it, buy here and gift it to the ends of the earth. But, this art can only come from Wawasee, created by hand and passed from our hands to yours!
Thanks for listening and reading through til' the end!
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