CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A studio that helps artists with developmental disabilities create and sell their work has expanded with a new location on Chicago's South Side.
Project Onward opened the studio, which features ceramic sculptures, at the Bridgeport Art Center.
“Project Onward helps artists who have disabilities like autism, down syndrome, schizophrenia, bipolar disease, to create art and show people, in general, that people with disabilities are just like you and I — with more talent than you can believe,” Project Onward Executive Director Nancy Gomez said.
Gomez said the studio provides artists with developmental disabilities and mental illness an opportunity to profit from their work.
“We’re special in that we provide the studio space, as well as all the materials for our artists to create their work,” Gomez said. “Once they create it, we sell it for them, and they get 50% of the sale.”
She said that's not all the studio provides, though.
“It’s increasing awareness of the artists that have disabilities … those are the artists that we actually service here, and you’d be amazed at the artwork that they create,” Gomez said.
She said Project Onward hopes to open more studios around the city, so more artists with disabilities will have the opportunity to create work and profit from it.
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