Arts for Asylum Seekers
Information for Creatives
Use your creativity to support asylum seekers
Are you an artist or “creative” who is passionate about social justice? Are you sympathetic to the plight of people who are in the legal process of seeking asylum? Would you be interested in leveraging your talents to support this cause? Chittenden Asylum Seekers Assistance Network (CASAN) needs you. CASAN is looking for creatives (artists, poets, writers, sculptors, musicians, photographers, etc.) to join us for an important fundraiser. The need is growing dramatically as more and more asylum seekers arrive in Vermont. A description of how you can participate is below.
How it works
Read the FAQ below to get all the details. Decide what creative project you would like to do.
Fill out the sign up form below. We’ll be in touch with you about the next step:
Set up a page on CASAN's Arts for Asylum Seekers fundraising site where your sponsors can make a donation. This is a quick and easy process, and we are happy to help with it.
Start looking for sponsors. Reach out to friends, family and anyone who you think would like to see your creative work. CASAN will also advertise the event to potential sponsors. Sponsor sign up will begin March 1st.
Starting April 1, begin producing your creative work and share it with your sponsors daily or weekly. You will be sharing your work in digital form. For example, you could send out a piece of writing by e-mail, or a scan of a sketch, or make a recording of yourself playing music. You could share your work by e-mail or send out a link to a blog or social media site where you post your work.
Have questions? E-mail artsforasylumseekers@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my original work at the end of April?
Your work is yours to do what you like with. You can sell, keep or give it away.
Do I receive compensation from the sponsors for sharing my creative work?
No, the full amount of sponsors’ donations goes directly to CASAN. Of course, we are mindful that you may not want to give away work that you would normally sell, especially if your creative work is your profession. We hope that instead you will consider sharing a rough draft, a sketch, or documentation of your progress on a project.
Do I have to make a donation to CASAN to participate in Arts for Asylum Seekers?
No. You are donating your time and talent - we are very grateful for both!
How often do I have to send out my work to sponsors? You can choose to send out your work either once a week or every day during April. If you choose to send out work daily, we understand if you have to miss a day here and there. People are busy and things come up. We are also mindful that several weeks of Ramadan and Passover fall in April this year. Keep in mind that you don’t have to produce a completed work each day. You can send out a photograph or description of the progress you’ve made on a larger project. You can also share some work that you have produced in the past. We do ask that all work you send out to sponsors be your own.
Is there a fundraising goal Creatives need to meet?
No. We appreciate donations of any amount.
Can CASAN host my creative work online?
Unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to do that. You can use any way of sharing your work that works for you - it can be as simple as sending an email with an attachment. Or you could update a blog or Facebook page and send the link to your sponsors.
Can I upload my creative work to Facebook, Instagram or other social media sites?
Yes. If your site is open for anyone to see, we encourage you to also send out something just for sponsors when you post your work. For example, you could send a short e-mail reflecting on your creative process.
Does my creative work have to be about asylum or asylum seekers?
Your work can be inspired by, or about, anything you choose.
How do I or CASAN find sponsors?
Please reach out to your friends, family, and other personal networks to ask them to sponsor you. We'll send you some text you can use to explain how the event wors and what CASAN's mission is. CASAN will also be advertising Arts for Asylum Seekers on Front Porch Forum, Seven Days, local newspapers, Facebook, LinkedIn, through artists associations, etc. We are very open to suggestions and Creatives are welcome to share the information anywhere. This does not have to be limited to Vermont/Chittenden County.
Will I have to collect money from my sponsors?
No. Sponsors will make their donation online on your fundraising page, or send a check, directly to CASAN.
How do I set up a webpage on the Arts for Asylum Seekers Fundraising site?
From Arts for Asylum Seekers 2024 click "I Want to Fundraise for This." There will be instructions on how to set up your fundraising page. On this page, you can include photos and a description of your project, set a fundraising goal, and see how much money you have raised. We are happy to help you set up your page.
Can I offer to create something just for one sponsor for a higher level of donation?
We would like people to be able to sponsor Creatives at whatever amount they can give. But, if you would like to offer something extra in addition to the daily work you send out to all sponsors, that is fine.
If I have additional questions, where do I send them?
Send an email to artsforasylumseekers@gmail.com