Dayamrita on Circle of Love Inside Art

[Guest guest]

I received an email from Br. Dayamrita today about this idea of

creating cards and calendars from the art prisoners make. He likes

the idea. Also, he says it will need to be approved by Amma and the

MA Center Board. Presumably he will present it to the Board maybe

to Amma as well.

 

So that means I need some REALLY GOOD advice. I need to find people

who understand microcredit and may actually have worked with it. I

need people who would know about inexpensive color printing--in

India, for instance. I need someone who might have experience or

knowledge about marketing and distribution of products like writing

cards and calendars. We need to develop a business plan that is

grounded and practical, a thing I have never been able to do with my

own artwork. HELP!

 

It seems that there are a million leftover unsold calendars in

February so the calendar idea may be an inhouse thing. Everybody

wants an Amma calendar though. On the other hand, maybe people

would buy a calendar to give as a gift to their relatives and

friends who are not Amma devotees. If we could get it together by

November, we could sell it during November tour.

 

And then there's the little bunch of new angels--sevites--who would

like to make this project happen.

 

I have a house full of artwork that I haven't sold so believe me I

understand the need to plan this well.

 

Linda, the website idea could be part of what we're doing but just

part. I wouldn't ask Maheshi in New York to do all that work for

us. We have people here who have the expertise.

 

In Amma's love,

Aikya

 

Ammachi, nierika@a... wrote:

>

> Aikya wrote:

>

> Circle of Love Inside is writing to at least two women who are in

need

> and they do artwork. I need good solid financing and business

advice

> about how to deal with the inmates in a microcredit way and how

to

> create a vusiness that ca make money for them by seling their

artwork

> on note cards and calendars.

>

>

>

> Dear Aikya ~ this is wonderful, if we can think of a way to

implement it.

> This way, at least these two women would be able to obtain money

for some of

> their needs through the fruits of their own labor. What first

comes to mind for

> me is this: set up a COLI Art Website (I don't know how to do

this, but

> perhaps your graphics friend who is doing the presentation

stations for the tour

> could help).

>

> Then have the women send you their artwork if they can. It could

be

> digitally photographed and/or scanned to be uploaded to the

website. Of course,

> someone would have to take the responsibility for also getting

these images onto

> cards, which could be sold individually, or in sets. (Again, sorry

to burden

> your graphics friend, but perhaps he could help with this also.)

You could also

> sell the images as matted or framed prints, for a higher price.

You would

> show the product and note the price (for card or print, and of

course, include

> the size of the print), and perhaps set up paypal for people to

purchase

> directly from the site. If that is not possible, you could just

have an order

> form somewhere on the website with an address to mail to. People

could mail in

> the money for what they want (and be sure to include the cost of

printing the

> images on cards, buying the envelopes and the shipping and

handling in the

> cost), and then the "product could be sent out."

>

> Another possibility if this could get off the ground is that those

of us who

> are artists might also be interested in contributing images, so

long as

> there is no cost to us except emailing the image to whoever is

maintaining the

> website, with all proceeds going to COLI. Just an extra thought to

consider.

> I'd sure buy a card of your beautiful yantra image.

>

> Great idea! Blessings ~ Linda

>

>

>