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40 North announces the inaugural Season of Community Supported Art (CSA)

Champaign County – 40 North is pleased to announce the inaugural season of Community Supported Art (CSA)! Shares are available to purchase for $300.

What is Community Supported Art? Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy seasonal food directly from local farms. With the same buy-local spirit in mind, we are pleased to bring CSA to our community, to support local art, artists and collectors through this self-sustaining program. This local project is modeled on Community Supported Art in Minnesota, created by mnartists.org and Springboard for the Arts.

The following local artists receive a stipend to create 25 “shares” for the program; Bob Chapman, Lisa Kesler, Hua Nian, Sophie McMahan, Susan Harbourt, Nathan Westerman, Stacey Gross, Michael Schwegmann, and Miriam Martincic.

These nine artists are creating limited edition, unique-to-CSA art work that is unavailable anywhere else. Interested consumers/collectors will purchase a share from 40 North and in return receive 9 pieces of locally produced artwork (one from each artist) distributed during exclusive pick-up events in 2015.

Shares are $300 for the season and can be purchased by contacting Amanda at abaker@40north.org, or 217-363-3795, or by visiting 40north.org/programs/CSA. Shares will sell out fast!

The goals of the CSA program are to support and compensate local artists while helping grow an engaged community of local arts supporters. CSA supports artists in several ways; in the creation of new work, to establish relationships with local collectors and patrons, and to participate in the launch of an exciting new model of art support and distribution. The benefits for CSA shareholders include multiple works of art from local artists at a fantastic value. Shareholders will also have the opportunity to develop relationships with the local artists and art community, discover new artists, explore a variety of disciplines, and support artists’ careers.

About 40 North | 88 West
40 North – Champaign County Arts Council – is dedicated to cultivating creativity in Champaign County. Through advocacy, information and collaboration, 40 North works to stimulate a vibrant, thriving environment for the arts, culture and education essential to the quality of life in Champaign County. For more info, visit www.40north.org.

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