Growing up, I was told becoming an artist was a SONSA idea. Depending on who you ask, that means silly, foolish, or naive. Years later, I decided to own the word. SONSA now stands for Society of Non Starving Artists. We took the insult and turned it into a mission: helping artists prove that creativity can put food on the table.
– Og LewisOne, Founder
We grew up hearing that becoming an artist wasn’t practical, that it was a nice hobby but not a real way to make a living. We decided to live the opposite.
SONSA started with a pretty simple question: what if artists actually had a real place to work, to teach, to build something, and to make a living doing what they love? Not a borrowed classroom or a corner of the garage, but a real studio built for real work.
That’s what we’re reclaiming. A word that was meant to call creativity silly or naive is now becoming a thriving community.
We’re done with the starving artist myth.
SONSA is about space to create, tools to work with, and people who actually get it.
We’re a new Iowa nonprofit just getting off the ground… we have a building, insurance, our founding board together, and we’re working toward opening in the Arts District in Downtown Clinton Iowa.
We have also worked hard to established ourselves in our community with a monthly First Friday Art Walk event that has been going on for over a year now.
We have most of the physical pieces. Now we’re opening the doors.
SONSA will be a working makerspace and artist studio for painters, sculptors, musicians, poets, and human creatives of all kinds.
Phase One Includes:
- Affordable Open Studio: Real workspace for real artists, not just a class.
- Community Maker Days: Free and low-cost access for youth, seniors, and beginners.
- Artist to Artist Support: Mentorship Workshops on how to actually sell your work and put food on the table with proven tactics used by non-starving artists worldwide.
We are meeting with community partners now and we need our founding circle.
- Become a Founding Supporter: We are raising $400 to file our 501c3. Your name goes on our Founding Wall.
- Join or Share: We are looking for board members, volunteers, and artists who need space.
- Donate Tools & Materials: Paint, wood, easels, tables, clay — if an artist can use it, we can use it.
HELP US DESTROY THE STARVING ARTIST MYTH
Artists need three things: Space. Tools. A fighting chance.
SONSA is building all three.
We’re already doing the work. We’re running events, bringing artists together, building partnerships, and turning an empty building into something our creative community can actually use… while showing and collaborating with artists on how it is done. Now we need a little fuel in the tank.
THROW SOME GAS ON THE FIRE
Your contribution helps us get SONSA off the ground and closer to opening the doors of our working artist studio and makerspace.
Give once. Give monthly. Give yearly. Whatever makes sense for you.
$10 helps buy supplies.
$25 helps keep an art station stocked.
$50 helps us build the infrastructure artists need.
$100 helps us make bigger things happen.
$400 gets our 501(c)(3) filing over the starting line.
And if you have a little more to throw into the hat, we won’t complain.
FUEL THE ART
One-Time Support
Want to throw some fuel on the fire?
Pick your level and help keep SONSA creating.
Every penny helps keep the art flowing.
Your support helps us put more creativity into the world.
A little more fuel, a little more fun.
You may get some cool SONSA swag, like stickers or other goodies.
Now you’re really fueling the fire.
Look for some extra-good SONSA goodies, possibly including a T-shirt or other art swag.
You’re officially keeping the creative machinery running.
We may send you some seriously cool stuff, from SONSA swag to prints or original art.
You magnificent art-fueling beast.
You’ll get some of our coolest offerings, plus permanent recognition on the SONSA Sponsor Wall.
Ya Got a number in mind? We’re into it.
We’ll find some cool stuff to send your way based on your level of support.
Available Soon....
Keep the Fire Going
A one-time contribution gives SONSA a spark.
Ongoing support keeps the fire burning.
Choose monthly or yearly support and become part of the group helping SONSA build something that lasts.
*A QUICK NOTE ABOUT TAXES & PAYMENTS
SONSA is currently a nonprofit in formation and is working toward federal 501(c)(3) recognition.
Contributions made at this time are not currently tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor regarding the tax treatment of your contribution.
Because SONSA is still getting its banking and payment systems set up, credit and debit card contributions are currently processed through LewisOne Studios, the founding organization helping SONSA get off the ground.
If you make a contribution by card, “LewisOne Studios” may appear on your bank or credit-card statement. This is expected and does not mean your contribution is going to a different organization. The funds are being collected on SONSA’s behalf while we complete our nonprofit setup.
We believe in being transparent about where we are. SONSA is a nonprofit in formation, and we’re already doing the work while we build the organization behind it.
Thank you for helping us get this thing off the ground.
Society of Non Starving Artists
515 S. 3rd St, Clinton, Iowa
Questions to: info@thesonsa.org