IPMM x Sonnenzimmer: Funding Ideas Beyond Formats

Written by:

Lillie Therieau

Aug 29, 2022

IPaintMyMind is big fans of Sonnenzimmer, and have been for years now. They’re printmaking is trailblazing and their commitment to their values is inspiring. IPMM connected with them a while back, and then purchased a bundle of prints for The IPMM Collection, and we’re also happy to say that we recently acquired another set of prints from them to display in local schools!

But onto the real info and news here…

Chicago collaborative art duo Sonnenzimmer is made up of artists Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi. Their art spans a variety of mediums including printmaking, sculpture, and writing! Sonnenzimmer is an experimental studio that’s been around since 2006, and in that time, Nick and Nadine have been focusing on the expansive possibilities of graphic expression. Sonnenzimmer has been working on several community-focused art initiatives in the last two years, including Ideas Beyond Formats.

Funding Ideas Beyond Formats

Ideas Beyond Formats is a program designed to aid BIPOC+ artists in developing, promoting, and publishing a significant work in their creative career. The chosen artist will receive a $2,000 honorarium and a $2,000 production budget for use as they see fit. Nick and Nadine also aid in the conceptual development process and promote the artwork via Sonnenzimmer’s social media channels. The idea is to allow artists to take a leap in the kind of work that they are able to afford to do, allowing them to tackle complex projects or ideas that will be catalytic in their personal creative development.

As mentioned, we always love to add their surreal, colorful and graphic prints to our collection, however, we’ve recently taken our partnership to a new level.

This year, we were able to fund 20% of Sonnenzimmer’s 2022 operating costs for the Ideas Beyond Formats program!!

The operating budget goes towards the monetary awards for the chosen artist, as well as retaining three Reviewers to go through applications, 25 small Honorariums for every applicant as a token of gratitude for their applications, taxes, meeting expenses and more. We’re super thrilled to be able to support such an innovative program that supports emerging artists!

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Adding to IPMM’s Impact Strategy

Our support of Ideas Beyond Formats is the first iteration of our newest addition to IPMM’s impact strategy. From now on, we’ll be reserving funds to support one impactful local art project by other Chicago art organizations each year. Our vibrant and creative city is full of amazing folks and organizations doing the important work to connect communities through art.

IPMM works in just one area of the arts nonprofit world. We have a specific skill set and perspective, informed by our understanding of public school funding and the importance of equity in arts education. However, we always want to support other organizations with different skill sets, perspectives, and abilities. That’s why we’ve decided that when we find an organization with truly impactful programming who’s doing their thing in the best way possible, we’ll commit to funding them in whatever capacity we can.

The arts organization and nonprofit community is a delicate ecosystem! Sometimes, the deepest impact comes from seeking out orgs that are in the best position to successfully implement innovative programs and supporting them, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. We’re excited to support Sonnenzimmer and the Ideas Beyond Formats program and can’t wait to build relationships with new organizations in the years to come.

The 2022 application cycle for Ideas Beyond Formats just closed and the chosen artist will be announced soon by the panel of Reviewers! Stay tuned for updates via our blog and social media channels.