One of the greatest privileges of any artist is being able to pursue their craft and make a full-time living from their work. Not every artist has the ability to do this, because it takes a relentless work ethic and talent to do so.
Artists aren’t always supported by their communities, and people often fail to see the importance of arts and culture in the growth and development of communities.
Matthew Gwyer, a talented young artist from Maine has been able to pursue art for a substantial portion of his professional career. He has been featured in international news platforms for his insights on art as a career, and has been featured in art galleries, like Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Gwyer has become a champion for the arts in local communities. He says art is important to communities and is a driving factor of economic growth.
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The facts support his claim
According to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), the state arts agency in Maine is the Maine Arts Commission (MAC), and they are recognizing the importance of supporting artists in the state.
The total budget for the Maine Arts Commission for the fiscal year in 2021 was approximately $1.9 million, and the state is often looking for new ways to supply funding to emerging artists and organizations.
The MAC received $815,300 in funding support from the National Endowment for the Arts in the same fiscal year.
One item of significant interest as well is that the MAC awards grants to artists and art organizations throughout the state. In that same year, the MAC awarded about $1 million in grants to support the arts in the state.
There is one truth that people are beginning to acknowledge – the arts help drive economic growth, and strategic, informed investments into the arts are worth it for communities over the long-term.
According to the Maine Art Commission’s website, the arts and culture sector in Maine contributes approximately $1.6 billion annually to the state’s economy. This figure is based on a study commissioned by the MAC in conjunction with the Maine Office of Tourism and the Maine Community Foundation. The study was titled Arts & Economic Prosperity in Maine.
Beyond the positive economic impact, Matthew Gwyer says the arts can help relieve stress and provide an escape as well as a healthy outlet for members of the community.
During difficult times in his own life, Gwyer would turn to a paintbrush and a palette to ease his worries and channel his emotions.
He recommends people try doing the same. “Anybody can become an artist,” says Gwyer, who contends that art is all about repetition and practice, as well as adding your own unique contribution to your work.
To see Matthew Gwyer’s catalog of art, you can visit his art website and explore his work.
One of the greatest privileges of any artist is being able to pursue their craft and make a full-time living from their work. Not every artist has the ability to do this, because it takes a relentless work ethic and talent to do so.
Artists aren’t always supported by their communities, and people often fail to see the importance of arts and culture in the growth and development of communities.
Matthew Gwyer, a talented young artist from Maine has been able to pursue art for a substantial portion of his professional career. He has been featured in international news platforms for his insights on art as a career, and has been featured in art galleries, like Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Gwyer has become a champion for the arts in local communities. He says art is important to communities and is a driving factor of economic growth.
The facts support his claim.
According to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), the state arts agency in Maine is the Maine Arts Commission (MAC), and they are recognizing the importance of supporting artists in the state.
The total budget for the Maine Arts Commission for the fiscal year in 2021 was approximately $1.9 million, and the state is often looking for new ways to supply funding to emerging artists and organizations.
The MAC received $815,300 in funding support from the National Endowment for the Arts in the same fiscal year.
One item of significant interest as well is that the MAC awards grants to artists and art organizations throughout the state. In that same year, the MAC awarded about $1 million in grants to support the arts in the state.
There is one truth that people are beginning to acknowledge – the arts help drive economic growth, and strategic, informed investments into the arts are worth it for communities over the long-term.
According to the Maine Art Commission’s website, the arts and culture sector in Maine contributes approximately $1.6 billion annually to the state’s economy. This figure is based on a study commissioned by the MAC in conjunction with the Maine Office of Tourism and the Maine Community Foundation. The study was titled Arts & Economic Prosperity in Maine.
Beyond the positive economic impact, Matthew Gwyer says the arts can help relieve stress and provide an escape as well as a healthy outlet for members of the community.
During difficult times in his own life, Gwyer would turn to a paintbrush and a palette to ease his worries and channel his emotions.
He recommends people try doing the same. “Anybody can become an artist,” says Gwyer, who contends that art is all about repetition and practice, as well as adding your own unique contribution to your work.
To see Matthew Gwyer’s catalog of art, you can visit his art website and explore his work.