Daybreak Arts

Many individuals experiencing homelessness have difficulty obtaining and maintaining housing due to barriers to traditional employment like physical and intellectual disabilities, mental illness, domestic abuse and trauma, incarceration, and more. Our artist collective program impacts historically excluded and low-income artists by developing their entrepreneurial skills and increasing accessibility to artistic and non-traditional forms of employment. We provide access to a free studio space, art supplies, exhibition opportunities, educational workshops, and transportation. Our tailored and trauma-informed approach allows participants to increase economic mobility by producing marketable art, gaining skills, building relationships, and earning income through creative endeavors. the artists we serve are currently or formerly unhoused adults with an artistic background or passion and share a variety of intersecting underrepresented identities including different gender orientations, disabilities, races/ nationalities, education levels, religions, and more. Since 2014, we've served around 120 artists impacted by homelessness and paid out over $70,000 to artists from art sales, reproductions, performances, teaching artist stipends, and intellectual property licenses. This income has allowed our artists to purchase necessities (e.g. Rent, groceries, utilities), invest in their careers by purchasing art supplies and workshops, and enhance their quality of life by investing in their emotional and personal self-care.