13 Pageviews Read Stories
Causes: Arts & Culture, Visual Arts
Mission: Encaustic art incs mission is: to promote public awareness, understanding and appreciation of encaustic/wax art. We do this by providing exhibit space to professional artists, and online artist exchange of information and technique, and hold workshops for persons of all ages. Museum of encaustic art's mission is: the goal of the museum of encaustic art is to grow the largest, most extensive, and best represented encaustic art collection in america. This includes at least four categories of encaustic art, such as encaustic painting, encaustic with paper and photography, encaustic with mixed media, encaustic sculpture, encaustic monotypes and cold wax. We publicly display this collection in the same facility as the gallery for the encaustic art institute. Interesting and thought-provoking juried exhibitions are facilitated through the museum, such as 2017's global warming is real exhibition.
Programs: Encaustic art institute (eai) celebrated its 12th year anniversary accomplished its long term goal of adding under the umbrella of eai - the museum of encaustic art. Housed within the same building, eai now offers 1500 square feet of dedicated space for the museum's permanent collection. Paid attendance is now in place. With expanded efforts in marketing, attendance has grown and the museum's presence is being recognized. An added children's workshop area was created, offering free children workshops age 7-14, while adding new instructors for the existing adult workshops offered. Eai still meets a community need by introducing a new medium to the school arts curriculum in order to revitalize the art-making experience and provide new opportunities for creative exploration and problem solving using the instant effects of wax. This unique medium is the second oldest art from in human history and currently the fastest growing medium in the us. Eai continues to provide an online magazine bi-annually, providing a connection for encaustic/wax enthusiasts world-wide, and an exchange of information for working artists. It currently is read in 22 countries. In 2016, eai opted to start subscription pricing - charging for the magazine that began as free. At eai, both emerging and established artists are equally valued and supported, as are art enthusiasts and students of encaustic/wax art, from youth to adults. Eai continues to solicit grant support, as well as donations in order to maintain financial health. The commitment to higher rent, and higher operating costs has motivated eai to gain a bottom-line beyond the eai membership fees, workshop fees, museum attendance, and sales of artwork. In 2017 the museum of encaustic art extended its hours to 6 days a week and open 11 months out of the year. Consequently, eai successfully worked to create a larger volunteer staff to help with the added hours, and added showings and events held during the year.