In 2001, five self-taught visual artists who used the services of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) met with TASK volunteer Susan Darley to discuss forming an artist cooperative. The nascent idea was to offer all TASK patrons, who possessed artistic interests and talents but did not have the personal resources to pursue their creative activities, a collegial environment in which to hone their talents and sell their artwork, reaping the benefits of their creative efforts.
From the outset, the artists made all the decisions about how the cooperative was run and what projects it undertook. Membership in the group also provided an opportunity for the artists to learn entrepreneurial skills. The artists named their organization “The A-TEAM Artists of Trenton,” and the group grew quickly. Soon, the soup kitchen became a year-round gallery for the display of A-TEAM artwork. Over the years, the A-TEAM artists participated in hundreds of shows at diverse venues, including museums, galleries, corporate and government offices, hospitals, religious institutions, and other non-profit organizations. The artists also reached out to the Trenton community by lending their work to local businesses and non-profit groups, leading monthly art workshops, and hosting visits of students from local public schools and universities and patients from hospital art therapy programs.
During the COVID pandemic, the artists decided to strike out on their own in display space donated to them in Princeton. They named their new venture the ANEW Artists Alliance and now meet regularly in the ArtSpace gallery at HomeFront, a Trenton non-profit organization that works to end homelessness. Following original A-TEAM principles, the artists, themselves, run all aspects of the ANEW cooperative, and membership remains open to all self-taught artists with limited financial means. The artists’ goal is to master the skills required to establish their own artistic careers. These skills include finding venues; meeting with curators and gallery owners; showing and selling their art; framing and preparing their artwork for exhibit; arranging publicity; and managing their individual and group finances. A small group of volunteers is available to provide advice and logistical support whenever requested by the artists.
The ANEW artists appreciate your interest and hope you will enjoy their artwork.
To see more ANEW artwork and read artists’ bio’s, please go to the ANEW Artists Alliance at anewartists.com.
If you have questions or suggestions, you can reach the ANEW Artists Alliance at anewartistsinfo@gmail.com.
