The Eastmont Art Fund was founded in 2006 by Eastmont Custom Framing owner Jean-Pierre Pasche. The mission of the Art Fund is to work with the LOCAL arts community in fundraising for LOCAL organizations to their MUTUAL benefit, adressing some of the issues that we believe local can be faced with:

• The demand for donations is growing at a faster rate than the capacity to give. The general economic situation makes fundraising more crucial but also more difficult than ever, and people's generosity is increasingly challenged by the rise in the cost of living.
• The “competition” from larger national and international organizations raising funds for major causes or catastrophies is “diverting” funds that could otherwise be given locally.
• Contributors understand they won’t generally receive anything in return for their donations, but it can still be frustrating to receive a $5.00 mug for a $120.00 contribution, for example.
• The arts community is very often sollicitated to donate artwork for fundraising events, and artists always respond with generosity. But these artists generally do not get any financial benefit from their donations, and only limited exposure. The same economic situation is not helping and most artists, except for a fortunate few, belong to a segment of the population that is not financially able to contribute as much as they do.

The answers to these issues is the Eastmont Art Fund's mission:

The organization of fundraising events in the form of juried art exhibitions that:

• Make fundraising more attractive and efficient.
• Increase financial opportunities and awareness for the local arts community.
• Reward contributors with valuable artwork in return for their donations.

Eastmont Art Fund
The Old Town Hall
43 Main Street
Easthampton, MA 01027
413-529-9265
artfund@eastmontgallery.net

The beneficiary of the
Third Annual Fundraising Art Exhibit
of the Eastmont Art Fund
is

The 2009 Easthampton Bear Fest,
the ambitious Public Art Project, brainchild of
Easthampton City Arts

The theme of this year's Juried exhibition is

Bear Necessities

CALL TO ARTISTS

• Eligibility: applicant has to be working or living in the Pioneer Valley, MA.
• Media : two-dimensional art created by the applicant within the last 2 years. 1 item per applicant.
• Theme: “Bear Necessities”. The sighting of Bears is increasingly common in our neighborhoods as these animals are getting bolder in their search for subsistence while – or because - their natural habitat is being threatened by urban sprawl. Applicants' work can represent bears, what Bears need to exist in a natural, healthy and sustainable way – for example the landscapes in which they live, the food they eat -- or the challenges and threat that bears or other wildlife are faced with because of human encroachment into their natural habitat.
• The exhibition will be held at the Elusie Fine Art Gallery in Easthampton ’s Old Town Hall July 25 - August 29 . Reception and Jury Results on opening day July 25.
• Criteria for jury deliberation : artistic merit, creativity, originality, and relevance to the theme.
• The application is to include an artist statement related to the submitted artwork.
• The winning artwork will become part of the Eastmont Art Fund Collection: The original work will be auctioned off and a limited edition giclee print will be published.
• An artist commission of 30% will be given for all artwork sold during the exhibition, and of 20% for the prints made from the winning entry. This year, the fundraiser will be held in the form of a silent auction. Bidding will start on July 25 and end August 29. Bidding updates will be posted regularly on this page and communicated weekly by email. Bids will be accepted on site, by phone or via email.
• Application deadline : June 15, 2009 .
• Deadline for delivery of artwork: June 30 th, 2009
• Application fee : $20.00
• The E.A.F. reserves the right to limit the number of artworks exhibited.

For more information and to request an application package, please call 413-529-9265 or e-mail artfund@eastmontgallery.net. To learn more about the Easthampton Bear Fest, visit www.easthamptonbearfest.com

************************

GIVING

THE EASTMONT ART FUND WAY

If you chose for example to offer someone Doris Madsen's diptych "Echodale Farm", winner of the 2007 edition of the Eastmont Art Fund, your purchase will also be a contribution to the Pascommuck Conservation Trust and provide a commission to the artist.

Please note that " The Faces of Katrina" by Leni Fried is also available in the original block print, edition of 75, hand pulled by the artist herself. Please visit Leni's website for more details or to order.