Business & Tech

NELA Art Organization Applying for Nonprofit Status

Shift to nonprofit status will help group raise funds for more art related projects, NELAart director Cathi Milligan said.

New NELAart Director Cathi Milligan promised to eventually make some major changes to the .

This week, the first of those transitions began.

On Wednesday, Milligan--who also owns the on York Boulevard--launched a fundraising campaign in support of NELAart's transition to nonprofit status.

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The project, which is hosted at IndieGoGo.com, seeks to raise $5,000 to pay for the application process, as well as promotional materials and future NELAart projects.

Click here to see NELAart's IndieGoGo page, which details donation sponsorship options.

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"Applying [for nonprofit status] costs about $950," said Janet Dodson, the campaign's lead promoter. "We have other expenses, as well. We need to print fliers, make T-shirts. We also have ambitions for future projects that we'd like fund."

Founded six years ago, NELAart's primary goal has been to organize and support Second Saturday Gallery Night.

As new director, Milligan said her goal is expand NELAart's presence beyond Second Saturdays.

"As a nonprofit, we want to bring more opportunities to the artists in this area," Milligan said.

Among the new projects spearheaded by Milligan was January's . For $10, patrons were treated to a bowl of soup and presentations by four artists. They were then able to vote on which artist deserved to take home the gate fees.

The shift to nonprofit status will open up fundraising avenues for NELAart, Dodson said.

"It's to help us raise funds; it's actually easier to raise money from foundations and grants," Dodson said. "Most of them have some kind of guidelines as to who they can donate money to."


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