Artists need opportunities
It is a tough time for new and developing artists. Never before have the tools to create art been more accessible, but at the same time, opportunities for new artists are rapidly disappearing. Print media is all but dead, “Indie” music has transformed from an ethos to a genre, art galleries are closing, and social media has been overrun with AI slop and “content curators” who post stolen works. In order to combat these trends, artists need viable and sustainable ways to share new and original works with a public hungry for authentic expression.
Artists need organizations like 4ARTSAKE.
4ARTSAKE is a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting working artists by providing Exhibition and Distribution Opportunities for existing works, Group Projects that local artists can contribute to, and Hands-On Learning Experiences where developing artists can learn new techniques and strengthen their personal abilities alongside other Portland creatives.
We’re stronger together
At 4ARTSAKE, we focus on group projects and collaborative releases (including Films, Music Compilations, Anthologies, and Live Events) that bring artists from various disciplines together for the purpose of shared expression, connection, and community-building. We believe that artists are stronger when they work together, and that collaboration elevates individual works of art far beyond what any person could accomplish on their own.
Check out our Home page for all our current projects!
Art is the expression of the human experience
All art is about communication. Since the beginning of time, human beings have shared ideas, feelings, values, and lessons through storytelling, music, performance, and visual art. We better understand ourselves and the world not only through the creation of art, but by engaging with art made by other people. At 4ARTSAKE, our goal is to help artists build and grow their audience, and to foster conversations around what it means to be alive in the modern age.
Helping new artists to find their voice
Part of our long-term mission is to focus more on education, and help people coming to art for the first time to find their footing and build their confidence. We believe the first step is to foster the existing Portland artistic community, and to provide a welcoming and friendly path into collaboration through our group projects, but we know that we ultimately need to reach creatives who are not yet ready to venture out into the world as self-declared artists.
In Q4 of 2025, 4ARTSAKE will be hosting free online self-guided courses designed to help new and developing creatives to find their unique artistic voice and join the conversation. Our planned classes include: Breaking the Block, a course about jump-starting your creativity; Designing Characters for Comics and Cartoons, a class around building story-ready characters; and Publish it Yourself, how to write, draw, and print your own zine or mini-comic.
Want to stay in the loop about our coming classes / our education timeline? Sign up for our Newsletter!
Three Ways to Contribute :)
If you share our mission of supporting and providing opportunities to new and developing artists, there are three great ways to help!
Financial Contribution
Your contribution will help us purchase necessary equipment, fund more group projects, and offer hands-on education to developing filmmakers, writers, illustrators, and more! Support D.I.Y. PDX artists today!
Donate Hardware & Supplies
We are always on the search for music and film equipment, computer hardware, and raw consumables such as paper / pens / paint for visual artists. Your donation goes a long way, and may be tax-deductible!
Volunteer
Showing up is perhaps the greatest gift of all! We are looking for people to join us as collaborators, administrators, educators, and fundraisers. If you have a skill that you think we can utilize, reach out and let us know!