Hey! In spite of the American part in the title...this is a serious thing I need ideas from artists for. I want to shape an organization with teeth that will support the needs of all artists in much the way SAG does it for actors...only better! I have a small crew on board already, and we are out to take the art world back for ourselves (and who knows, maybe we can go international too). At this point, all is in the planning stages and we want to develop a newsletter, a national convention annually, and a central art registry where artist who want to can keep track of their art nationally (worldwide later) even after it is sold. It would be re-registered each time it is resold as well. It will also lend an a certain legitimacy to art that is so registered as well as to the artists listed.
Eventually, this organization could have enough numbers to weild political clout and this is one of the goals. Personally, I think the arts and artists are the virtual salt of the earth...and we should have a lot more sayso and clout than we do. We are largely humanitarian, liberal, truely responsible and with conscience, are progressive and care about ourselves and beauty and the planet and people and good things. If I had my choice, this is a description of who I would want to call the shots. Wouldn't you ?
So what I want is discussion of how and what this organization should be and what it should offer to members...and what you think are THE art issues everyone wants addressed and dealt with? What are the problems and what are the solutions? How should we organize this union of souls?
After the national union is organized, there will be state franchises in each of the 50 states to organize (i.e., New Mexico Artist's Union, California Artist's Union, etc) Our goal on every level will be to assist and facilitate art and artists in every facet of life and to avoid typical organizational corruption like the plauge. Seriously. So...come on. Creativity is what we need, and you got it!