About this project

The Insider Out Project is a community outreach program designed to benefit displaced, homeless, mentally, or physically disabled individuals through the exhibition and sale of their photography.

A Kickstarter initiative would fund a years lease for exhibition and meeting space, the hardware and software needed to reproduce the images, filing for 501(c)(3 ) status, a business license, printing, framing, advertising, publishing, an e-commerce site, and operation of the project.

Insider-Out will reach out to local community shelters, rehab clinics, soup kitchens, local YMCA, veterans association, and elderly homes for participants.  We plan on distributing up to 200 disposable cameras to our artists, and conduct photography and writing workshops with guest lecturers. Deadlines will be placed for camera submissions and we plan on scheduling at least two major exhibitions throughout a twelve-month period.

Artists who return their cameras will have their images processed, and we will assist on the selection process.  Once their artist statements are completed through our writing workshops, we will also photograph our artists to have their portrait on file.  Their images will be on display alongside their portrait and brief statement about their work, in the space provided.  Each artist who returns their camera, and completes the process will have their work on display in at least one of our events.    The prints will be on sale for $125, and each artist will receive 70% of their own print sales.  The remaining 30% will cover costs of more cameras, or supplies needed for maintaining the space.  

The work will also be on sale online through our website/ e-commerce store.  The site will be fully integrated with a digital-processing lab, which will process, print, package, and ship all online orders. We plan on using the internet and social media to generate awareness, along with a monthly newsletter documenting the progress of the project.  We will take advantage of grassroots efforts creating a general business card for our artists, promotional materials for scheduled events, as well as a book – which will also be for sale.

Insider Out will be a highly collaborative effort, not only with the artists, but with volunteers and interns as well.  We will need help in preparation, awareness, and entertainment for each show.  With the help of local artists, local small businesses, young entrepreneurs, students, and volunteers, we will create awareness of our mission and upcoming events, secure sponsorship for our exhibitions, and continue fundraising efforts.

We have already started building relationships with a number of local business owners, young entrepreneurs, musicians/bands, restaurants/ caterers, students, and local artists who are willing to help Insider Out along the way - we have already received a donation of cameras for our efforts.  We have also rounded up a number of artists, marketing strategists, and friends that have already expressed interest in volunteering. 

The main objective of Insider Out is to establish and maintain a strong sense of self-awareness, self-empowerment, and self-sufficiency through photography and art. Many of the artists we will be working with are often overlooked, and disregarded.  We will work closely with them to develop their photographic vision, and help sell and promote their artwork.  Many of the artists have no voice for their creative sense, or an outlet for that voice – we are providing them with the tools they need to productively express themselves effectively and have their voices heard. 

For donations of $1,000 or more, our donors will receive a canvas print 8x10 or larger.  With those proceeds, an additional print of the featured image will be  on display in our gallery at a higher price point - the artist will receive 70% of the sale.  The canvas print has grown in popularity over the past few years and looks great when printed on a large scale.  This will help create more opportunities for artists to get their sell their work, and by having it highlighted on our walls.

Our donors, who pledge $5,000 or more, are invited to be a part of our Creative Board.  The boards will work closely with other volunteers and donors to develop the project, generate awareness, and research further funding.

A part of the funds raised includes a monthly stipend for curating, maintenance, and operation of the project and its website,, the space, and social/print/digital media.  This also includes the documentation of our progress throughout the year, biographies on our artists, and the production of any other promotional materials. 

 

Report this project to Kickstarter