This spring Spindleworks received a grant from the Maine Community Foundation to launch an exciting new project called artist:artist. As the mission of Independence Association states, we are committed to helping people with disabilities “obtain a full and inclusive life in their chosen community”. At Spindleworks we achieve this through connecting the artists with the larger creative community as a whole. Field trips to galleries and studios, workshops lead by local artists, and exhibits of our work in the community help to connect the artists with the community and establish resources as well as inspiration for their work. artist:artist takes this idea one step further. Through a careful selection process, Spindleworks is matching member artists with an artist in the community. Through monthly “art dates” the pair will learn from each other, explore together and inspire each other’s work. This friendship will provide additional strength to the foundation of inclusion that Spindleworks establishes for the member artists. The grant from MCF will insure that there will be no barrier to transportation or cultural access for the art dates. In about a year’s time, Spindleworks will host an exhibit featuring all of the participating artists. Stay tuned for more on this exciting program. If you are a community artist interested in being part of this program, please contact us.