After a successful trial run in April, local artists are being asked again to participate in a program where artwork will be given to patrons at local food banks.
Led by the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance, Soul's Food is a program where artists can paint small paintings to be given out to those in need in the community. "We've recently started a program called Soul's Food that is just about to hit its second round of distribution," Liz Colgrove, festival and program coordinator for the Alliance, said.
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"Soul's Food ... puts out a call for artists and then we compensate them to create artwork that's going to be distributed to the local community through food banks," Colgrove said. "People are a little more vulnerable right now due to the pandemic and being isolated, giving them a little sense of community connection, and then also help the local artist community who really struggled after the pandemic."
Colgrove said they are opening up the project to more artists this time, noting, "We are actually putting out a call for artists more publicly. The first time around we sort of reached out to our network of artists and kind of got a feel for who would be interested participating.
"Because it was so successful the first time around, we thought we'd kind of open it up a little bit and get more people involved," she said.
The first time the Alliance asked artists to donate artwork, but this time they have received a grant that will allow them to pay the artists for their work. Around eight to 10 artists participated the first time, she said.
"I hope we get lots and lots of artists who are interested and lots of great artwork, and I really hope, I'm not sure if it's possible, but I hope to get some good feedback from recipients," Colgrove said, noting they "have to maintain privacy of course," with the people who get the artwork.
The grant was provided by The Hot Springs Giving Circle, and a news release said those who participate will be compensated $200 for creating an 8-inch by 10-inch or a 10-inch by 10-inch piece of original artwork.
Mary Zunick, executive director of the Alliance, said participants will be selected by a committee.
"Artists who are interested in participating email us their bio and some examples of their artwork, and then we'll have a screening committee to select the artists to participate in this second round," Zunick said.
Those interested in participating have until Aug. 1 to apply.