Poverty and the Arts - POVA Information

Poverty and the Arts (POVA) is a social enterprise nonprofit that exists to equip people impacted by homelessness with the creative resources, training, and marketplace to overcome barriers to employment and income by leveraging their creative talent, participating in developmental workshops, and establishing vital social networks and relationships. The POVA Artist Collective provides a professional art studio setting, artist grade art supplies, artistic and business workshops, and gallery exhibition and representation to artists impacted by homelessness in drawing, painting, photography, jewelry, fiber arts, mixed media, sewing, printmaking, and more so they can have the opportunity to create and sell their work. The program is further enriched by trips to museums, galleries, and artists’ studios. POVA artists develop a working portfolio and exhibit in the POVA Gallery, as well as venues across the city. Through engagement in the Artist Collective program, POVA artists earn creative income which gives them greater autonomy in their day-to-day lives, as well as gain valuable entrepreneurial and social skills which allows them to access better jobs, increase housing stability, and build the necessary social security networks to remain out of homelessness.