An artist who prioritizes their art over financial security is sometimes referred to as a “starving artist.” Should they be starving? Artists At Work is dedicated to changing this reality.
The national workforce program provides artists with a living wage salary, health benefits, and professional development training and sets them up with local and national contacts.
AAW artists are employed for one year to work with their local community to create an artistic project that serves their community’s needs and addresses issues such as mental health, antiracism, substance abuse recovery and protecting cultural heritage for future generations.
This is the first time the program has been implemented in Indianapolis. Applicants were selected based on need, and Artists At Work advisors were interested in finding artists already rooted in and working in their communities.
The cohort includes Kaila Austin, Adrienne D. Jackson, Johnson Simon, Jared Thompson and Corey Ewing.
You can see what they did for their projects in 2024 at the Artists At Work Indianapolis final gathering and celebration 6-9 p.m. Feb. 25 at The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St.
Artists’ presentations begin at 7 p.m.
Though the event is free, attendees should register here. Food and drinks will be provided.
In 2020, The OFFICE and the FreshGrass Foundation launched AAW to help artists around the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has provided 70 artists across 11 states with salaries and health benefits.
Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
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