“As a cultural worker who belongs to an oppressed people, my job is to make revolution irresistible. But in this country, we’re not encouraged and equipped at any particular time to view things that way: And so the artwork or the art practice that sells that capitalist ideology is considered art, and anything that deviates from that is considered political propagandist, polemical or didactic, strange, weird subversive, or ugly.”

— Toni Cade Bambara

Hello Sketchboard Community,

Hiiii! We’re finally at our Bay Area Summer, hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather that was bestowed on us last weekend. We have been quiet here, but for good reasons. It’s been a meditative summer. We recently held Fat Liberation Month for August, in collaboration with model and fat liberation activist, Angelina Moles, Fierce Fat Femme. We reflected on how traditional figure drawing techniques prioritize certain body types, and how we can challenge these conventions by making our hiring practices more inclusive, by fat models for 1 whole month. The challenge was a struggle, as it isn’t always easy to schedule a full month’s worth of a particular body type, but Angelina helped us scout and source amazing new models. Modeling calls for a meditative, empowering, and a revolutionary representation of the human form. This is a political value that we collectively share with each other at Sketchboard.

That is why we started Sketchboard, to uplift and center marginalized bodies and showcase their authenticity with the greater community. We didn’t feel represented in institutions or studios, so we started becoming more intentional with our offerings to better serve the artists we identify with.

We started building out bigger events, like the Ides of March and Queer Delights. We started creating strategic goals and met them - like paying our director and staff. We wanted to create professional development and creative opportunities for our community; so we held a couple of grant workshops and group art shows. This all couldn’t have been sustained without the loyal contributions of our creative community.

Your grassroots donation helps fund our ability to pay a living wage to our models and facilitators, hold accessible events and workshops and some of the general operating expenses of Sketchboard. Look out for upcoming events such as dance parties and Pole Dancing Showcases.

In Solidarity,

Nat + Sketchboard Team

PS: Meet The Team!

Ways To Support Sketchboard

Become a recurring donor! Choose a donation amount, and help our programming be resilient and sustain Sketchboard. Any monthly amount helps and is fully tax deductible. Join our monthly giving program today!
Want to enjoy the perks of both donating AND attending our events? Join our Subscription Program! You can get access to all of our workshops, events, and get exclusive Sketchboard merchandise. All subscriptions are fully tax deductible. Join our Subscription Program here.
NEW!!! Employer Gift Matching is a great way to make your donations go ever further. You can now find Sketchboard on Benevity, a gift matching platform - ask your workplace Community Engagement Coordinator or HR representative to see how you can use your workplaces gift matching program for Sketchboard.
Sketchboard is now also on CARS! If you have a vehicle you are ready to part with CARS can help take care of the paperwork and removal with the proceeds or recycling going to Sketchboard. This is a great way to get to your to-do list and donate to Sketchboard.
Sponsorships & In-Kind donations. If you have materials or services you are willing to donate to Sketchboard please reach out to us at development@sketchboard.co.
Spread the word!! In addition to giving to sketchboard, you are also a vital part of the community and can help spread the word and reach of Sketchboard. Let your co-workers know why they should donate to us, bring your arts community to our events, invite us to table at an event, give a membership as a gift, host a house party or event as a fundraiser for Sketchboard, & let other art institutions such as schools and community centers know they should collaborate with Sketchboard!

Thank you for being part of Sketchboard and we are excited to grow with you! If you have any questions or need help with fundraising or making a donation reach out to development@sketchboard.co