Since the inception of the CSS workforce development program in 2024, it has become clear that not everyone is interested or able to work in a traditional workplace. It can be quite the challenge to locate jobs that are part time, supportive, accessible to folks with disabilities or criminal history, to name but a few barriers to employment faced by the unhoused. 

To help meet the need for a more flexible employment pathway, CSS launched an Arts Entrepreneurship Workforce Development program in partnership with MECCA and Radiant Community Arts, funded by a generous grant from Lane Community Health Council.  Thanks to the efforts of many organizations, we were able to offer a group of 8 clients training and support in making an income through the arts. 

This support included: studio time and free art supplies at Radiant; class instruction, MECCA bucks, and studio time at MECCA; and bus passes, cell phones, reading glasses, notebooks, pens, calendars, meals, and ongoing employment support from CSS.

We have a bunch of natural entrepreneurs in our client population at CSS. The clients who were selected for this pilot program collectively hold decades of experience in the art of making a living through entrepreneurial efforts, be it through busking, selling jewelry and craft items as market vendors, yard work, or earning an income through “canning” which is the work of reclaiming recyclable materials from the wastestream.

CSS also boasts a talented community of artists with years of experience in making art, many of whom also studied formally at the university level, some holding Bachelor and Masters degrees in fine art.

Nate is one of our recent graduates of the Arts Entrepreneurship program and is also a recent graduate of the City of Eugene Community Court program hosted at our Roosevelt community. Despite producing wonderful artwork at prolific rate, Nate has lost the entirety of his body of work due to many factors, including “sweeps” by the police, theft, and damage by exposure to the elements during his time on the streets.

Now sheltered by CSS, Nate’s career as an artist—begun back in his undergraduate years—can resume. For almost two years now, CSS shelter and aftercare participants have had the opportunity to take part in our award-winning program with Radiant Community Arts. This art program for the unhoused offers two hours of open studio time each Friday for our clients in a bright and well-stocked room of art supplies, along with supportive arts assistance for those who want it.

But taking that next step, from creating art to sustaining a modest stream of income has proven elusive–an experience that is not uncommon among artists, whatever their housing status.

Enter Mitra Gruwell, Community Engagement Coordinator with MECCA. Mitra brings a unique combination of experience as a successful working artist and teaching a workforce development program for the unhoused through her Viking Textile industrial sewing program. And: Mitra created a 8-class series in marketing and selling your art.

The Arts Entrepreneurship workforce development program launched in the first week of July. The 8-weeks of classes covered topics ranging from “Ways you can make money from art,” “Sourcing materials for your art and creating a functional workspace,” “Marketing yourself as an art brand,” “Pricing your art and craft items,” “Productize your art to sell and how to display your work,” to “Money stuff: consignment and gallery percentages, contract work, tracking expenses, and income, profit and loss.”

Nate commented that Mitra’s class was the most useful one he had encountered in his art career. When asked for further feedback about the program, Nate praised the “great, practical, hands-on teachings” of the course, and said he enjoyed the “free discussion amongst the group” most of all. “It felt like we are a fraternity of artists working toward a common goal of marketability and sustaining ourselves with our efforts.”

The course ended in a culminating sales event held at the Hybrid Gallery at a “Last Friday" artwalk evening market in the Whittaker neighborhood this past September. Six of the original eight participants in the program sold artwork at the event. Nate sold $70 worth of artwork that night, and feels inspired to keep getting out there with his art.

CSS, MECCA, and Radiant plan to offer this innovative Arts Entrepreneurship workforce development program again, likely in May 2026.