Arts Rescue Utility & Summary
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The emergence of crowdsourced funding as a mechanism for supporting both social welfare programs and the arts in the United States reflects broader shifts in economic and political structures. As traditional forms of public support are eroded, often as a result of deliberate policy decisions that prioritize private capital over collective well-being, alternative networks of financial mobilization have gained traction. These mechanisms, largely facilitated by digital connectivity, bypass conventional institutional constraints and operate within a framework of voluntary association and mutual aid.
Consider, for instance, the way businesses cultivate long-term relationships with their patrons, who, over time, transcend the role of mere customers and become embedded in a network of trust and familiarity. This phenomenon is particularly evident in small enterprises, restaurants, galleries, mid-sized businesses, where personal relationships are central to economic sustainability. If a trusted individual within a community endorses a cause, the social capital accrued over years of engagement becomes a powerful instrument for mobilization.
• Approach: Campaigns usually appeal to emotions, tell compelling stories, and emphasize social impact.
• Platforms: GoFundMe, Zeffy, Mightycause, and Fundly are common platforms.
• Incentives: Donations are often tax-deductible, and donors might receive thank-you notes or small tokens of appreciation.
SUMMARY: Arts Rescue Mission (ARM) Aid to Aging Artists in the Performing Visual and Literary Arts
RESTORE/SHELTER/PROVIDE/PRESERVE
1. OUR ORIGIN: From siege to service, ARM began during the siege of Sarajevo, a time when artists were under literal threat of destruction, displacement, and silence. We helped them restore what was broken, offered shelter, provided what was needed, and preserved the voices that refused to be erased.
Today, our mission remains, to respond to new forms of siege. Health emergencies, housing, unfunded projects, and forgotten legacies that all threaten the livelihood and dignity of aging artists. ARM stands ready to meet those challenges with community, creativity, and compassion.
2. OUR MISSION: ARM is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that supports aging artists across Visual, Performing, and Literary disciplines through urgent aid, housing support, project funding, and legacy preservation.
OUR FOUR TENETS:
RESTORE, Emergency support after illness or injury. SHELTER, Subsidized housing and storage. PROVIDE, Creative time and opportunities in later life. PRESERVE, Gifting, archiving, and historical recordkeeping.
3. HOW IT WORKS ARM is virtual. We don’t pay rent or utilities. Our resources go directly to the people who need them.
When you visit our crowdfunding portal, you can:
1. Launch a campaign or join an existing one
2. Use our ready-made badges and icons
3. Let us amplify your effort if it aligns with our goals
4. Funds from Crowdsource campaigns are the most expedient delivering aid for sudden illness & accident within 72 hours, fast enough to make a real difference.
4. EVENT-BASED FUNDING: We organize five annual events that fund our four tenets:
1. ARMON Awards Night (Spring): Honors outstanding artists & funds SHELTER
2. Taste Roast (Summer): A lighthearted roast that helps fund WRITERS
3. All Saints Dinner & Dance (Fall): A costumed gala for PROVIDE
4. Letters from the Earth (Winter): A storytelling brunch funding PRESERVE
5. CROWD FUNDING & DEMOCRACY: Crowd Funding is the most democratic model of support we've seen. If you need help any particular need, whether it's health or shelter, start a campaign. If you believe in someone's effort, pitch-in. If you know someone with a list of people who care get them involved. We send out no more than two campaigns per month to our list and that’s usually a suggestion from that list. We don't manage your campaign; we can help lift it, but you just must take the first step. We believe one of the most important things we can do is spark a greater awareness not only regarding Crowdsourcing, an awareness that, when traditional institutions fall short, there are still other ways. Ways that empower creators to move forward with their visions in a rapidly evolving world.
6. OUR ONLINE GIFTING & ARCHIVE: Preservation in action, our GIFTING & ARCHIVE digital space for artworks and documents is for both artists and collectors giving them a places to both store documents .. If you've downsized, lost your studio, or need to prepare a legacy, this is the place. It is searchable via Google and cross-referenced with major Houston archives like the Menil, University of Houston, and Rice. We also honor forgotten stories, unsent letters, and lost voices by inviting written submissions. We believe history is made of scraps, and art deserves a second chance.
7. PARTNERS & PATRONS CAN BE: Credit unions, community donors, and retired arts professionals help fuel our mission. Our research recommends:
• Blue FCU (strong donation matching and arts-friendly programs)
• Space Coast CU (community engagement, youth education)
• First Community CU (nonprofit-specific accounts and grants)
• We welcome relationships with like-minded institutions across North America.
FOUNDER'S STATEMENT "This all started after I broke my back in 2023. Then again in 2024 an appendicitis. My community came to my rescue. Not just the money, but the fact that I was remembered. This is for every artist who deserves to be remembered."
D. M. Allison, Founder
9. GET INVOLVED
• Nominate artists for awards or housing support
• Host a fundraiser
• Join our board or advisory council
• Contribute to the archive
• Donate or start a campaign: http://www.artsrescue.com/
Thanks to generous patrons, we’re able to welcome artists who bring the magic.
Dan Allison
artsrescue2025@gmail.com
office 281-221-3707