ArtLifting

What's ArtLifting? ArtLifting is a social enterprise that empowers individuals who are in art programs at hospitals and shelters by selling their artwork. We are a low-profit limited liability company ("L3C"), which means we are a business driven by a social mission. Our mission is to help artists who are disabled, sick, or homeless artists find self-empowerment through the celebration and sale of their work. How'd we get started? As a college student, Liz Powers wrote a thesis which explored the social benefits of art therapy programs. Upon graduating from college, Liz created art groups in women's shelters in Cambridge, Mass. She realized that there were many great art therapy programs in Boston, but the missing piece was an equally empowering method for the artists to share their artwork. A first step. In 2011, Liz founded City Heart, an annual art show in Boston which offered a professional marketplace for members of eight local shelters to sell artwork to customers. In 2012, Liz's brother, Spencer, joined the team to help with the finances and logistics and by 2013, the show had grown to include 70 artists. While the show was a local success, Liz and Spencer started brainstorming how to create a large-scale and sustainable marketplace for art therapy artists. Why not provide a professional marketplace for these artists year round? Why not help artists in hospitals and disability centers as well as shelters? Why not expand outside Boston? In addition, customers were always excitedly asking the same question at the check-out counter: "When's the next show!?" It was clear that there were so many reasons to grow and expand the mission, but we needed a sustainable and scalable way to do it. The result is ArtLifting! Founded in October 2013 as a low-profit limited liability company ("L3C"), ArtLifting is the social enterprise solution for homeless and disabled artists. We are driven by our mission and seek to empower our artists by providing a professional gallery where they can sell their work. Please explore the gallery and enjoy the artwork created by our friends. We encourage you to uplift the artists while brightening your walls. Your patronage is very much appreciated.