Art has value. Every stroke or blend; every form of an artist’s expression contributes to a product which, when finished, is presented for view. Regardless of size or shape, the finished product is measured by potential. Most of the time, its value is aligned with a price tag.
Created with hopes of changing a frustrating reality in the art industry, CU-Boulder students Alex Klinger and Amanda Roper started : a group for students who want to step into the art world’s entrepreneurial industry.
Aside from promoting CU artists, WARES is focused on providing experience for students looking to explore entrepreneurship. In addition, the group is looking forward to hosting future workshops that will be open to CU students, regardless of their major, and has plans to bring in CU professors and other guests to teach topics useful for anyone interested in expanding their abilities and knowledge in the field. The group also hopes to teach workshops on mino-printmaking, portfolio building, social media skills, as well as workshops for students interested in the business side of things.
The idea to create WARES came about last summer during a casual conversation on Roper’s front porch where the two shared frustrations with the art industry, which is something they are both passionate about. A simple discussion over problems they felt conflicted by led to a proactive movement.
“People who really, truly care about the art have a hard time breaking in,” Klinger said. “That was essentially the problem that we began talking about.”
In a little less than a year of development, WARES now has 10 members, including artists and those who work on the development team.
Klinger, who's interested in graphic design and web building, has expanded his skill set through the ĚýIn addition to strengthening his skills, Klinger also has taken advantage of the CU entrepreneurial community.
“CU's entrepreneurial community is so accessible and helpful,” he said. “That's been a big resource for us.”
Programs such as the and other entrepreneurial resources on campus like have allowed Klinger to meet mentors to help guide him along.
Through their work with WARES, Klinger and Roper have paved the way for other students to learn from their experience.ĚýThe co-founders, along with members of the registered non-profit, work closely with professors and graduate students in the CU-Boulder as well as local businesses who show support by hosting WARES events.
“I really like working with this community,” said Roper, a finance major from Highlands Ranch. “Everyone has been so nice and so helpful.”
Among others, WARES has collaborated with Alfalfa’s, Buchanan’s and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Boulder businesses such as these have hosted WARES events, which has helped mobilize awareness of the group across the community.
With widening support, WARES is able to thrive and do what matters most: promote art.
“We are different because we don’t have a physical gallery,” Roper said. “We’re getting other art-oriented businesses around Boulder to open up their doors and promote, with us, what they’re doing that night.”
Collaborating with local businesses provides student artists with special opportunities: something that is a unique quality the Boulder community has to offer.
“Working with the community eliminates the need to charge our artists upfront costs to hang their work,” Klinger said.
Unlike professional art galleries that collect higher rates, WARES only takes 10 percent of profits, all of which is funneled into the group, according to Klinger.
“All of the art we sell is very reasonably priced. We want to make it accessible to students and people who are frustrated with walking into a gallery and having to pay $500 for a piece of paper,” Klinger said. “We want to make artists money,” Roper added.
The two friends have developed a big picture movement from a desire to change the status quo. And that is just what they did, and continue to do. Klinger’s advice to students facing similar challenges: get moving and reach out.
“My advice to other CU students is to get out there and connect with the community,” Klinger said. “There are so many people in Boulder who are thrilled to help students. Whether you're into design, programming, accounting, music, or whatever you can think of, there is probably someone in the community who would love to mentor you, you just have to reach out.”
One way to connect with community entrepreneurs is through the Leeds School of Business , which offers education and practical opportunities for both business students and students from other majors across campus.
Klinger and Roper have accomplished a lot in the past year within WARES and continue to find ways to provide CU students with resources in order to ease the struggles that artists face. The journey has proved to be an experience of value.
“We don’t know what the future holds,” Klinger said. “But whatever makes the most impact and whatever helps artists who deserve to be in galleries market themselves is what we’re going to do.”
Making a difference by moving toward a bigger picture goal will prove worth-while. For Klinger, all it took was a knack for making an impact on something he cared about.
“Never be afraid of reaching out to someone; don’t be intimidated by status,” Klinger said. “Everyone is just a regular human being."
More information about entrepreneurship opportunities on campus:
Photo courtesy of WARES. Artwork on display during a summer 2014 art print event held by WARES.