Our Mission:
who we are
Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST, “assist”) is an online nonprofit artist support organization whose mission is to connect independent artists with resources.
Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic by professional storytellers, ASST took action, swiftly organizing online to identify and respond to the pressing needs of artists. The unprecedented access of the Internet allowed us to grow into a global arts community that continues to expand as our organization takes shape.​
A world where all artists have equal access
to education, funding, and community.
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We believe that by elevating the artist, we elevate the art.
Our Vision:
what we want
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Host a free weekly gathering online as a source of genuine community for artists everywhere, weaving education, programs, and support into a dependable forum. Beginning on March 16, 2020, we’ve met every Monday except Memorial Day and Labor Day.
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Administer the Storyteller Relief Fund, a small grants program that provides critical financial support to free-lance artists in need. We have donated a total of $7,126.00 to 24 artists since April 2020.​
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Provide a platform for online arts programming, connecting artists at all phases of their careers with an international, intergenerational audience base. As of March 2024, we have presented 209 online arts programs, reaching participants from six continents, 35 countries and all 50 U.S. states. This body of work has laid the foundation for a project-based model wherein our organization can provide essential support for artists’ visions.
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Conduct Youth Standing Strong Camp, where youth ages 5 - 18 are paired withindividual mentors online, creating a global artist cohort across continents, languages, backgrounds, and cultures. Over 200 youth and staff from 17 different countries have benefitted from this small-group, one-on-one mentorship experience.
Our
Core
Functions:
what we do
Our Values: how we do it
1. ​UNCONDITIONAL WELCOME
We believe that our greatest asset is each other, so we actively seek participation from everyone.
We invite you to show up, just as you are.
When you show up, you are embraced and empowered.
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2. ELEVATION
We intentionally engage with people who have been historically underserved,
creating space for diverse voices to be heard and uplifted.
Our art is enlivened and enriched by our differences.
3. ADAPTATION
We encourage flexibility.​
We don’t pine for perfection.
We get things done.
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4. INTEGRITY
We celebrate the continuum of ancestry by building programs that bring youth and elders together.
We honor our commitments.
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5. CREATIVE SUSTAINABILITY
We adhere to the philosophy of plenty -- believing there is enough of everything to
go around -- so we share what we have, unequivocally.
By resolving that we would not be a paid membership organization, we determined that our financial foundation would not come from those we were created to serve.
We proactively invite investment in our work from a broad spectrum of sources.
This Statement of Mission, Vision, and Values is a living document, designed to help chart our organization’s course. It must always be subject to the changing needs of our community. ASST will revisit this statement annually to reaffirm its relevance and make any changes necessary.
We are artist-driven, open to all.
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​Updates approved by the Board of Directors on May 6, 2024