For the benefit of Creatives.
TAO recognises the benefits of artists coming together under one roof. Art History, Contemporary Art, both document these benefits. Many expressive pioneers in art have had the support of like-minded creatives eager to see an impact.
Making use of empty, often large, unwanted, and hopefully free, space, is ideal for artists who occupy and many cities world-wide have examples of this in their cultural quarters. This has been going on for decades, mostly temporarily as the artist group battle requirements necessary to occupancy - utilities, services, landlords, authorities. They often fail - free cannot be free forever.
TAO have faced these dilemmas and worked out a way to make it work. Structures in each of our projects are in place to ensure failure does not occur because of finance. We say it cannot be free, but it can be cheap, as cheap as each project can afford, and each one varies from the other, depending on circumstance.
When opening a new building, we invite the artist community to participate in its development and make use of space. Dictate to us what happens. Whether renting a studio to create new artwork, setting up an office, teaching a workshop or a weekly class, putting on an exhibition, an event or festival, a fayre, a live music night or performance, we hope you will benefit financial from individual efforts and therefore accept the need to pay your way. If that means paying a monthly rent, offering a barter, or donating a percentage of profits, we hope we understand the artists direct needs and believe that we can discuss and, always, find a solution to answer these needs. We hope the combined efforts of all involved overcome the pressing costs to determine financial survival.
As a Social Enterprise we minimise profits, determining sustainment as the first level of success, then targeting employment as a necessity for full-time work to keep the structure in place. Long-term, we maximise profits for the benefit of the community, arts and arts in education.
TAO offer longevity, allowing the opportunity for development. We offer social centres in each project and the chance to network and collaborate, exhibit, sell artwork, perform, express. We offer support from our own experiences and the network of our organisation. We offer access to facilities and serve to provide them in each of our projects, maximising the potential of space. We offer affordable, workable space.