CREATIVITY EXPLORED

Founded in 1983, Creativity Explored (CE) gives artists with developmental disabilities the means to create and share their work with the community, celebrating the power of art to change lives. CE artists receive workspace and supplies, professional instruction, opportunities to exhibit their work, and the means to engage with the community through public receptions and field trips to museums, studios, and galleries. Studio artists also earn income, receiving 50% of the proceeds of each art sale and 40% of licensing royalties. Since opening our studio with fewer than 20 artists in 1983, CE has grown into a robust community of over 130 artists at two studios.

To date, CE artists have earned over $2 million from their artwork. Their greatest accomplishment is the international recognition they have achieved. In addition to being included in numerous private collections, artwork by CE studio artists has been shown in museums and galleries in 14 countries.

CE has served as a model in the fields of art and disabilities by exploring creative ways to integrate artists with developmental disabilities into the community, including working in mainstream community art studios such as Art Explosion and Root Division. Last year CE hired two paid interns, who are also artists with developmental disabilities, to engage with the public by working in CE's program, gallery and marketing departments. By offering thought-provoking, hands-on programming, Creativity Explored is aiming to engage diverse audiences and transform assumptions about disabilities.