Ink on Inc: Art Studio community is stronger than ever, but fundraising is needed to repair roof

by Greg Busceme Sr.

I am totally into this new format with Studio Ink. It opens an avenue where I can muse on ideas and convey to you our hopes and dreams or brag on our progress and achievements. As members, you have seen the progress of this administration through responsive assistance and efficient processing of your contributions and affirmation through a personal and creative card recognizing your support. We have streamlined the administration to be more efficient and nimbler and able to take on more fundraising events and offer more activities for our community. As established in our bylaws Goals and Purpose, we’ve bought buildings, housed artists, built equipment, set up two galleries, purchased tools to offer classes in different disciplines, and we have established a reputable means by which the community can purchase art. Our membership has grown from about 200 to a whopping 330! This is a critical number as we judge our performance based on this and other parameters that let us know we are on the right track.

Much of this is thanks to Stephanie Orta, Michelle Cate, and Kristen Whitmire. This administration is the best team we have ever put together and because of that we are able to offer more services, facilities, and support to all Southeast Texas artists. Check our website and you will find virtual exhibitions starting last September and continuing through today with no end in sight. There is now a Youtube channel with our name on it that will feature old and new content including interviews with a much younger me but with the same promises we made 37+ years ago. We have honored all promises to you with the notion that local artists are as good or better than any other community of artists. We generated the idea that making art in Southeast Texas is a viable profession that will give the artists financial opportunities and recognition for their work through gallery exhibitions, group sales, commission work, and fundraising. We are blessed with a community of artists that are so diverse and so prolific that our gallery walls have never been left wanting.

It is amazing for this to happen in a community of our size. It is a testament to the veracity of this organization that we made it this far and have been able to serve so many artists, guests, and patrons. We have generations of people who call The Studio “home” – probably the greatest compliment an organization can receive from a constituent.

This letter does have a point.  And I preempted this with a short success story, so you know we are not seeking help for The Studio’s survival. The Studio supports itself with monies raised and earned through a variety of avenues that keep our bills paid and our doors open. What we do need assistance for is major repairs – specifically, the roofs. We have some structural problems at our facility that need to be addressed before the integrity of the facility is in danger. A leaking roof not only causes damage to the interior of a building, but can damage the metal structure that supports the entire facility. Water has been dripping through the walls for years and we need to address this issue now or the cost of repairs will become far more expensive than if we act NOW! The first phase of this request is to replace the metal rooves that are under an EDAREN challenge grant to repair them. If we raise $35,000, they will match with $10,000 and we could have both rooves replaced with a 25-year guarantee.  Through our in-house funding strategy, the studio has accrued nearly $9000 and rising. Phase 2 will address our main facility roof and was estimated at $95,000 with a 25-year guarantee. This improvement will allow us to look to the future in this building rather than planning an escape route to another.

We welcome your tax-deductible contributions and active support toward getting this project completed. Your input, ideas, and moral support are always welcome as are volunteers who want to help The Studio live a long and happy life. 

Thanks for listening.