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July Member Special
Receive a free coloring book when you spend $50 or more during drop-in painting! Choose from three designs – a $10 value. Limit one per member family.
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Marketing & Communications Manager
Marketing & Communications Manager
Simply ArtAble seeks a part time Marketing & Communications Manager to work in the studio approximately 25 hours per week. Must be available to work occasional weekends and evenings. Starting wage $17/hour, with possibility for increase after 6 month review.
Description
The Marketing & Communications Manager will serve as part of the management team, alongside the Executive/Creative Director and the Development & Operations Manager. The person in this role will lead the marketing and communications functions of the organization, responsible for developing and implementing marketing activities and identifying opportunities to create partnerships, increase funding, and grow the organization.
As Simply ArtAble is a direct service organization with retail hours, open to the public, this position requires a combination of nonprofit management and retail management skills and experience. Because we are a small organization, it is necessary for the Marketing & Communications Manager to learn all aspects of the organization, including instructing painters, leading parties, and taking part in daily studio maintenance and administration as well.
Responsibilities
Marketing and Communications
- Identify, evaluate, and creatively engage in partnerships and funding opportunities designed to advance existing programs and new initiatives of the organization
- With the Executive/Creative Director, develop and implement strategic activities in order to expand and grow the organization
- Identify and get to know our target markets and develop and implement a plan to achieve greater market penetration
- Oversee and manage website renovation and re-branding process, ensuring greater brand identity
- Ensure consistent brand messaging and presence throughout the organization
- Create, execute and manage annual marketing/communications calendar
- Manage digital content and strategic direction on all platforms, including website, social media, and e-newsletter
- With the Development and Operations Manager, develop proposals and marketing materials for funders, and work to secure new sources of corporate and foundation support
- With Executive/Creative Director, identify and develop partnerships to increase our wholesale buying power, obtain donated items, and/or corporate sponsorships
- Attend fairs and special events to advertise and promote our programs
- Build and maintain relationships and partnerships with other nonprofits, local businesses, agencies, funders, and other stakeholders
- Serve as the spokesperson of the organization, speaking passionately about, advocating for, and increasing visibility of the organization’s mission and programs
General
- Understand the “flow” of the studio and be vigilant and aware of customer needs and respond accordingly
- Assist with drop-in painting and studio activities as needed, including supervising staff and volunteers during events, guiding painters, completing basic admin tasks as needed.
Qualifications
- Experience in marketing or nonprofit communications preferred; retail or customer service experience a plus
- Strong and effective communicator, persuasive speaking and writing skills
- A self-starter, an optimist, and an opportunist
- Must have connections in the community and have the ability to engage stakeholders effectively and build relationships
- Strong collaborative and problem-solving skills
- Must be comfortable working with people of all ages and abilities
To Apply
Email your resume and a cover letter by Feb. 2, 2018 to info@simplyjanestudio.com with the subject line “Marketing & Communications Manager”.
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Summer camps
2017 Summer Camps
Summer Camps at Simply Jane/ArtAble are week long, Monday – Friday, with morning and afternoon sessions. Our summer camp season begins June 15 with two single-day camps the first week. Our last week of summer camps is the week of August 21. For students in both the morning and afternoon camps, a supervised lunch (bring your own lunch) and an hour of high energy activities in our outdoor play area is included with your registration. All classes are for ages 5+ and will be taught at each student’s own level. All classes welcome students with disabilities (with a PCA or family member if needed.) Our studio is fully wheelchair accessible!
Morning Session: 9:00AM – 12:00PM Afternoon Session: 1:30PM – 4:30PM
Cost per half-day camp: $150/camp – Regular Price $130/camp – Member Price
+ Supply Fee ($15-20 per class)
** Register before April 1st and receive a $10 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT **
Additional information:
- Scholarships are available for those in need.
- Read about our highly experienced summer camp teachers in their biographies.
- Children registered for a full day of camp must bring a bag lunch and drink. Half day students may bring a snack. Refrigeration is available.
- After care provided at $10 per hour per child (charged at pick-up on the day of camp).
- Our cancellation policy
Camp Schedule & Registration (calendar format below)
No Events
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MRAC Grant to Support Pizza Paint Parties!
We are thrilled to announce that Simply ArtAble was recently awarded a Metropolitan Regional Arts Council grant to support our Pizza Paint Parties. Once a month we will host a two-hour painting class/pizza party for persons with developmental disabilities and friends from the general community. These events are an opportunity for day program participants and other special needs friends to paint and socialize with guests (volunteers) from the broader community. The parties are very popular and eagerly anticipated by all participants. We have learned that individuals with developmental disabilities are often very isolated, spending their days primarily with others from their own community, having few opportunities to socialize with the general public.
Our Pizza-Paint parties provide this opportunity. And of course, the day program participants are not the only ones who learn and grow and benefit from this experience. Our community volunteers find the parties incredibly rewarding as well. The one-on-one personal connection of creating art together creates a bond between participants, increasing their understanding of each other and their worlds.
Call the studio at 612-354-3961 to register a special needs person or group or to join us as a paint buddy volunteer!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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Paint a Flower Pot for Mom
Mother’s Day is right around the corner – create a handmade, heartfelt gift to honor her. Come in anytime during drop-in painting through May 8th and paint a flower pot (various sizes and prices) and get a free pansy to plant in it.
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May Member Special
Paint a FREE flower magnet with purchase. Stop by the studio and paint today!
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Opening Doors for Art Accessibility Fundraiser
Opening Doors for Art Accessibility Fundraiser was a great success- many heartfelt stories were shared amongst friends old and new! We raised over $6,100 for Simply Jane/ArtAble which goes to support our much needed healing art programming for adults and children with disabilities! If you missed the fundraiser and would still like to give please see our donation page to help us sustain our programs throughout the year. We thank you for all your support! See videos below from our fabulous event!
Our Creative Director reading about the Studio’s History:
Kevin Kling Storytelling:
Employee Peder Singing:
Gondwana (band) & Barbara Meyer (singer):
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Planting the Seeds for a Non Profit
7 years ago I blindly dug my fingers into a bounty of paint and created a garden themed art studio. As a community artist, I spent 20 years painting murals all over the US in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other healing environments. I had kids later in life and quit traveling to put down roots in SW Minneapolis. Once they were in school I decided that instead of going out into the community to paint, I would bring art into my local community by founding an art center! I knew nothing about business but it felt like the right thing to do. I found myself a business partner, a young entrepreneur who suggested we become a LLC business instead of a non-profit due to the economy at the time. I was optimistic and rented a little store front on 48th and Nicollet. I had simplified my mural designs and put them on everything from stretched canvas to accessories. I felt that if I planted it – it would grow! I soon found out that starting a business requires a lot more energy and work than I had thought! Unfortunately my business partner’s only skill was financial planning and we had very little finances! I eventually bought him out and tried tilling the business on my own.
WEATHERING THE STORM
I truly believe that Art is therapy; I know this personally as it helps me to cope with anxiety and depression. I soon realized others were coming to the studio for their own healing as well. People constantly comment on how relaxing and gratifying it is to paint again or for the first time in many years. At the studio we teach everyone on their own level how to use the materials which guarantees success. The little store front on 48th & Nicollet had the bathrooms and one of the party rooms in the lower level. I have two nieces in wheel chairs and an elderly mother not to mention all the other people coming in with special needs. If the garden were to grow we needed an accessible studio for all people and all abilities. The studio was a great concept, but without any business skills it just broke even and I never drew a salary. If it were to survive and grow, I needed to up my loan, hire more than summer camp teachers and move to a larger, accessible studio!
FINDING THE RIGHT CONDITIONS TO GROW
When my lease was up I uprooted and moved to 5411 Nicollet to a much larger space. With a new loan Simply Jane moved into its new home in 2010 and I was able to open up 3 new party/event rooms and a large open studio space by removing the drop ceiling and revealing a beautiful skylight. The studio had found its place to put down roots and grow deeper.
BLOOMING
In 2012 Simply Jane flowered into Simply ArtAble and became a 501c3 non-profit! With a grant from VSA Minnesota we added automatic doors at the entrance and bathroom, ramps and an adjustable table. A back parking lot was transformed into a lovely courtyard with a bright sunflower mural. The studio continues to host parties, events, classes and drop-in paint sessions, but now we also offer art programs that serve people with disabilities. With a volunteer board of directors ArtAble still just breaks even and I continue to volunteer my time and expertise; but we are doing so much more in the community and I am proud that we are able to support 2 full time artists and 2 employees with disabilities!
THE FUTURE OF THE GARDEN
Today we are hosting weekly group home paint sessions, teaching classes at Abbott NW and Children’s hospital and we partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mt. Olivet, The Museum of Russian Art, Community Involvement Partners and more. Please continue to support our little garden plot and know that everything you spend helps to grow our programs for people with disabilities and to employ artists.
It’s about peace & love, Jane
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Big Brother Big Sister Events
We hosted two special paint events 
for 10 matches each for Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities last month! The premise was to have each “match” , (a big sister/brother and little sister/brother), create a painting on canvas together as a unit. The canvas was illustrated with images that represent who they are as individuals and how they relate to each other.
I used the model that I developed for our corporate team building events and adapted it for the Foundation’s event. With team building participants, I interview the individual and write down descriptive words, places and thoughts that form a visual of that person. Then I use my “Art on demand” skills that I learned in the fast pace world of editorial illustration for the Minnesota Daily to create a canvas with simple designs in “coloring book style” for them to paint. Each canvas becomes a representation of their individual personality. The symbolism is explained and shared with the group at the end of the event and everyone leaves with new insight into their peers.
What was extra fun about creating the canvas for the matches of Big Brother Big Sister was that I asked them to describe each other instead of themselves. It was very sweet to hear their heartfelt observervations of each other. “She loves animals, so we go to the humane society to hold the kittens. Her old cat died so she can only hold him in her heart.” or “He is a really good musician and teaches me new songs real slow so I can understand the story.” So one canvas at a time I drew their names in “bubble letters” to be filled in with color as well as kitty cats with angels wings, guitars, musical notes, foot balls, ice cream cones, puzzles, gardens, bikes and whatever else represented these very special bonds. Powerful art-making transpired, creating colorful memories filled with a sense of gratitude on both sides of the match.
It’s all about Peace & Love
~ Janie