With news of cuts in the arts earlier this year, Art Collective co-founder Lyn Thomas was concerned that emerging artists were going to struggle to gain support and recognition, and that local communities were going to lose out on access to art and art therapy services.

Our goal was to find a way to enable emerging artists to produce fresh and exciting art and make it available to the public and local communities. We felt that we needed an ambitious project, with international artists bringing different cultures and creative ideas to the portfolio. We also needed a strong brand and style of art, so people would know what to expect from us. Our initial call for applications to join the Art Collective received a great response. We selected eight artists from around the globe with a mixed portfolio of paintings, photography and illustrations: our art is contemporary, fresh and sometimes quirky.

The Art Collective was launched on the back of this, we have already created a website that showcases our artists' works, and an online shop shop where buyers can directly purchase art. We will shortly be launching an online trade shop for retailers to purchase art greeting cards, prints, and other art products to sell in stores. The idea is that the artist gets directly supported from each sale and that a percentage is retained to keep funding the website, hold exhibitions, attend art fairs and keep innovating. In conjunction to the offering of original art, we have created a range of affordable art such as prints and art greeting cards. This makes art accessible to people who can not afford original art, and allows us to sell to retailers. This provides an additional revenue opportunity for the artists, ultimately enabling them to continue to work on their art.

Alongside this we have launched the Art Town project. Leveraging our portfolio and people, we offer art and art services for free to local communities such as hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation clubs. If anyone wants to take advantage of this, and thinks their local community would benefit from art, they can get details and an application form on the Art Town page of our website.

We have our exhibition opening on the 26th October at the Brick Lane Gallery in London, this runs through to the 6th November. We will be exhibiting work from artists: Susie David, Ben Gold, Deborah Gyan, Kjell Folkvord, Gina Hart, Lance Hewison, Finn Dean and Pauline Richards. Sign up online and get an invite to the opening night of the exhibition.

The Art Collective is looking to work with a select number of emerging artists who can benefit from this venture. If you are an emerging artist and would like to become part of the Art Collective you can send your portfolio to info@theartcollective.com for initial consideration.

If you would like to get involved in supporting this venture be it sponsorship, donations or in kind support, contact info@theartcollective.com or see www.theartcollective.com