Let's Grow ILA!
We're an organization dedicated to educating, celebrating, and elevating Black artists!
Project Description
***End of Campaign***
We've finalized our campaign and we're so grateful for the support. While we didn't meet our goal of 37K, we still raised a substantial amount to get the ball rolling thanks to our donors! From this raise, we'll be able to introduce our new & improved community events Creative Sips and G2G. In addition, we'll be able to bring on part-time support to help us efficiently and effectively maintain our Operations for the next year (which is huge!)
We're filled with gratitude and can't wait to fulfill the dreams of creating space that educates, celebrates, and elevates Black artists. Thank you again to all who've donated, you'll be glad you did :)
Who we are
I-L-A simply stands for I Love Art, and it is through this statement that we plan to expand the narrative of what accessibility to the arts looks like. While at first view the statement "I Love Art" may seem pretty general and simplistic, but for us, it has a much stronger meaning. Loving art means respecting and appreciating those who create it. For too long, Black creators have been marginalized, pushed aside, and taken advantage of, so the work of ILA reflects ways to make sure they feel seen and honored... because well, we deserve it.
By hosting educational art experiences, creative events, and an enriching youth mentorship program, we're committed to offering people who don't traditionally have the space to express and celebrate themselves, an outlet to do so. As a collaborative creative community in Chicago for the past 5 years, our focus remains on educating, elevating, and celebrating Black artists and Black artistry. We've reached a stage of timely growth and we recognize the importance of teamwork in order for this to be an effective expansion...that's why we're here raising funds.
Why do we need resources? Because this generation and future generations are reliant upon it. Art is a gift, and there are so many unopened gifts existing within Black bodies, simply because we don't get the same access and resources. But at ILA, we're changing that.
What we need
Transitioning our entity to 501C3 status, building a team to heighten our work, and making improvements to our events (online and in-person) is going to take support. I'm so filled with gratitude in knowing I've found support in you.
The contributions of friends, family, supportive volunteers, interns, and collaborative partners helped to further this work for the last five years. But in order to reach more, and serve more, I'm going to need more.
Help us Grow!
Where there is art, there's a story, and OUR stories are the building blocks to this immersive and expansive culture. We just need spaces to express and share them.
How great is it that the seed you plant in us today will bear fruit that many can eat + grow from later. Your support helps us expand our work so that we can educate more, celebrate more and elevate more! Thank you so much for your contribution today. You have made such an impactful difference in the shift we all need to see across the arts. So much gratitude for your investment in me, it is gonna go a long way.
Our Journey
About our Founder
Rachel Gadson was born and raised on the southside of Chicago. She has a strong attachment to the creative arts community and is a proud Chicagoan. She attended Florida A&M University where she attained her Bachelors in the field of Graphic Design (magna cum laude); and also studied internationally at Studio Arts Center International, in Florence, Italy.
A combination of love for the creative arts industry, and a keen desire to empower creatives (particularly creatives of color) shapes the trajectory of Rachel’s career and it’s the same fire that keeps her propelling toward her goals. With a portfolio that spans across varying industries with clients like Jewel Osco, PNC Bank, Hilton, Samsung and GitHub, Gadson now dedicates her time to creating access for more Black and Brown creatives to have the same experiences she has had and beyond.
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Why can't I get my product as soon as I purchase a reward?
Great question! For fulfillment purposes, it's best that we place one huge order at once, instead of single requests each week. As soon as our campaign closes, you will be contacted with shipping information. - Where will the Creative Sips take place?
These events will occur at varying locations across the Chicagoland area. Your sponsorship helps to secure space for these events to take place. - What type of art will I get with my ILA Angel sponsorship?
All ILA Angels will receive a print from one of the artists apart of our community as an additional Thank You! The size of the print is contingent on artists' inventory at the close of the campaign. - What will my donation go toward?
All donations for our campaign will go toward hiring a part-time Operations Manager (12K), funding for future in-person and online event experiences (15K), and funding to support the launch of our ILA Match Youth Mentorship program (20K)...starting in April 2022. - Will I be able to write this off as a tax-deductible gift?
Yes! All donations made to ILA in the year 2021 and beyond will be allotted as tax-deductible gifts once our entity transition is complete.
We know how much you love supporting Black artists and so this bundle was specially made with you in mind! Grab this reward for yourself, or as a gift to a friend!
The SWAG bundle includes:
- Limited edition ILA tee
- ILA branded sticker pack
- ILA branded poster art
Just because I love this mission and I love what Rachel has started!
An ode, an homage, an honor, to Black artists and their talents. Past, present and future.
Represent ILA in this dope, limited edition tee. Exclusively created for this fundraise!
Our Founder has had experience in more ways than one on what to do, and what not to do when introducing a new creative concept. If you are interested in learning about pivotal ways to advance your next creative spark and learn how to create a killer proposal to seal the deal, sign up for this exclusive deal! This will be an hour-long consultation and will include a free proposal template.
Two industries hit the hardest due to COVID were the Hospitality and Creative Arts industries. We're re-introducing an event series that will feature artists and folks from the hospitality industry in exclusive, intimate spaces for discourse. By choosing this reward your name (or company's name) will go on all marketing material as the guest sponsor for the event, along with honorable mention during the event. Wait! There's more, you'll get comped entry to all of our Creative Sips for one year! (in-person and virtual)
Receive your very own logo branding package from our founder herself! As a Graphic Artist working with brands like Samsung, GitHub, Hilton, Jewel Osco and more, she'll create a unique and memorable brand identity for your growing business!
This package includes:
- 30min consult call,
- Mood board
- 3 custom logo concepts/3 revisions
- Final image files for logo
- Logo style guide
- 30min debrief call
As a thank you for supporting our mission to educate our communities on the importance of Black artistry, we will add your name on the founding donors page of our new and improved ILA website! Plus, a special gift from a featured artist from our community!
*cues Anita Baker* :)
Not only are you making an undeniably huge impact by contributing at this level, you're also making it known that you are an avid supporter of the arts, and particularly care deeply about the advancement of Black artists for equitable change.
Bridging the gap and increasing awareness about ways our youth can explore careers within the arts starts right within our community. Because of this, we're launching the ILA Match apprenticeship program, where one young, emerging artist will be paired with a professional working artist for 10 weeks to learn and grow in their creative discipline.
This program will:
- Provide professional artists with short-term support
- Help expose a young artist to behind the scenes work of what it takes to be in that specific field
- Create opportunities of connection for future work possibilities
- Allow young artists to see the power of their gifts
Your donation helps bring this program to life! Help nurture the creativity that exists in our youth by being the first to fund this very influential program.
Rewards
We know how much you love supporting Black artists and so this bundle was specially made with you in mind! Grab this reward for yourself, or as a gift to a friend!
The SWAG bundle includes:
- Limited edition ILA tee
- ILA branded sticker pack
- ILA branded poster art
Just because I love this mission and I love what Rachel has started!
An ode, an homage, an honor, to Black artists and their talents. Past, present and future.
Represent ILA in this dope, limited edition tee. Exclusively created for this fundraise!
Our Founder has had experience in more ways than one on what to do, and what not to do when introducing a new creative concept. If you are interested in learning about pivotal ways to advance your next creative spark and learn how to create a killer proposal to seal the deal, sign up for this exclusive deal! This will be an hour-long consultation and will include a free proposal template.
Two industries hit the hardest due to COVID were the Hospitality and Creative Arts industries. We're re-introducing an event series that will feature artists and folks from the hospitality industry in exclusive, intimate spaces for discourse. By choosing this reward your name (or company's name) will go on all marketing material as the guest sponsor for the event, along with honorable mention during the event. Wait! There's more, you'll get comped entry to all of our Creative Sips for one year! (in-person and virtual)
Receive your very own logo branding package from our founder herself! As a Graphic Artist working with brands like Samsung, GitHub, Hilton, Jewel Osco and more, she'll create a unique and memorable brand identity for your growing business!
This package includes:
- 30min consult call,
- Mood board
- 3 custom logo concepts/3 revisions
- Final image files for logo
- Logo style guide
- 30min debrief call
As a thank you for supporting our mission to educate our communities on the importance of Black artistry, we will add your name on the founding donors page of our new and improved ILA website! Plus, a special gift from a featured artist from our community!
*cues Anita Baker* :)
Not only are you making an undeniably huge impact by contributing at this level, you're also making it known that you are an avid supporter of the arts, and particularly care deeply about the advancement of Black artists for equitable change.
Bridging the gap and increasing awareness about ways our youth can explore careers within the arts starts right within our community. Because of this, we're launching the ILA Match apprenticeship program, where one young, emerging artist will be paired with a professional working artist for 10 weeks to learn and grow in their creative discipline.
This program will:
- Provide professional artists with short-term support
- Help expose a young artist to behind the scenes work of what it takes to be in that specific field
- Create opportunities of connection for future work possibilities
- Allow young artists to see the power of their gifts
Your donation helps bring this program to life! Help nurture the creativity that exists in our youth by being the first to fund this very influential program.