Art à Loan is Saugatuck Public Schools’ award-winning student art lease program. A jury of art professionals choose works from student artists in Kindergarten through Twelveth grade.  The pieces are professionally matted, framed, and labeled with tags identifying the program, the artist, and his or her year in school. Invitations beckon school staff, businessmen, and each student's list of friends to join in the gala evening opening at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. The patrons gather early to lease works for $175 per year for public display in their office, shop, restaurant, or common room. Imagine the impact of seeing student art everywhere in the community! Our students receive recognition all year round in addition to being celebrated at the opening. Their parents are proud. Having work on display reflects well on the business owner or professional who shows support for the school and our children. Everybody benefits, but the key to the entire program is getting these works on display to the public. The program is self-supporting because the proceeds from this year will cover next year’s costs, and it is tax-deductible to the patron. 

 

If you have never participated before, it is pretty thrilling. If you arrive early, you will find the students are already there waiting to show their work to their extended families. Excitement mounts when we open the gallery doors at 6:45 p.m. All the works have a small numbered card next to them, an artist’s statement/bio, and the artist’s photo. When the signal is given, you remove the numbered card from the wall, and then it is understood that you are going to lease the piece. After that, you may then take your time getting to the leasing tables to give us payment either by cash, check, or Mastercard or Visa.

 

Often students will linger to make sure someone leases their art. We see them shooting hopeful glances at the card next to their work hoping to see a red dot signifying that their art has been chosen. It is an anxious interval for those who wait.  If you choose to lease a work, and if you take the time to find the artist, you will see the smile on his or her face. Enjoy this moment!

 

All work is leased at $175 per year and you may keep the work on display until the following year when you return it to the SCA (and hopefully exchange it for a new piece).