We are dedicated to providing individualized services to each artist.
Studio Program
Gateway Artists work in a cooperative studio environment where they have access to quality art materials, individualized professional support, and a community of other artists. We operate on an artist-led model, where studio staff, who are all artists themselves, are there to guide and support each artist as they work to develop their own artistic voice. Daily interactions between the artists promote insight, inspiration, and shared creativity, building a sense of community.
Artists have the opportunity to explore many art mediums, including, painting, drawing, weaving, sculpture, jewelry-making, fiber arts, writing, mixed media, and digital arts. Work created in the studios is then sold through our onsite store and gallery, as well as our online store, and through off-site events and retail partnerships.
Our studios operate 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM, Monday-Friday, with individual schedules determined based on funding and availability.
Studio 102 offers some half-day slots to accommodate artists requiring more flexibility in scheduling, with limited funding resources, or whose needs better match that studio environment.
Community Engagement
Gateway Arts is dedicated to strengthening the connections with and integration of our artists into their community; Brookline Village, the greater Boston area, and the local, national, and international art world. Gateway Arts’ community engagement program supports artists in selecting their preferred outings and providing necessary support for each individual.
Gateway artists regularly participate in gallery visits, museum visits and tours, and studio visits and demonstrations in Brookline and the greater Boston area. Artists also participate in drawing from observation sessions in a community setting and exploring the neighborhood to find inspiration to bring to their work at Gateway. Recent destinations include: MFA Boston, MIT List Arts Center, Boston Public Library, The Institute for Contemporary Art, and many more.
Gateway Artists also visit local artists studios and welcome working artists to speak about their work at Gateway Arts. Past visiting artists and studio visits include: Ellice Patterson of Abilities Dance Boston, Elizabeth Mooney, Corrin Flaherty, Anna Merrow, Jane Feigenson, Julia Sullivan, Yo Ahn Han, Morgan Little, and Noah Britton.
Funding
The majority of our artists receive funding through the Massachusetts Department for Developmental Services (DDS). Some artists receive funding through other funders, including the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), the Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP) at Mass Ability, and other provider agencies. We also work with individuals, families, and providers to develop private pay contracts.
Philanthropic support from several public and private funders, including the Mass Cultural Council, Brookline Community Foundation, Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation, Shapiro Family Foundation, and dozens of generous individuals, supplements this funding, allowing Gateway Arts to provide additional services and supports to our artists.
Interested in Becoming an Artist?
Gateway Artists come from diverse backgrounds, with a wide range of experiences, skills, and perspectives. We work with self-taught artists, those with art degrees, and those with experiences anywhere in-between. We do not require any previous training in art, but rather a strong interest and commitment to developing one’s art.
For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact Program Director Ted Lampe at lampet@vinfen.org or 617-734-1577.