Today we’d like to introduce you to John Bishop
Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Aripa Arte was born out of a deep desire to empower Romanian artists facing daunting challenges in building sustainable art careers. Founders Bogdan Mihai and John Bishop visited Romania in 2015, where they met with several local artists. They were struck by the significant obstacles these creatives faced, from limited resources to a lack of professional opportunities. As artists themselves, John and Bogdan understood the inherent difficulties of being a freelance artist. The barriers for many Romanian artists seemed staggering.
Determined to make a difference, they returned to the United States and teamed up with co-founder Deborah Ellington. Together, they established a Texas-based nonprofit corporation under the name Aripa Arte. The name “Aripa,” which means “wing” in Romanian, symbolizes their mission: to help Romanian artists rise above their challenges and soar in their careers.
The journey to obtaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status was a lengthy process, allowing the small Board to reflect, plan, and refine their vision. During this time, the Board welcomed new members,
Kimberly Harrison and Samantha Volkov, whose insights and dedication enriched the organization. Subsequent trips to Romania included focus groups and interviews with artists, gallery owners,
art educators, students, and cultural leaders, all of whom provided invaluable guidance on the areas where Aripa Arte could have the greatest impact. These conversations shaped the nonprofit’s
programming goals and prepared the team for the work ahead.
March 1st holds special significance in Romania, marking the start of spring and symbolizing renewal and growth. When Aripa Arte’s tax-exempt status was finally approved in February 2024,
the timing felt serendipitous. On March 1, 2024, the organization hosted its inaugural Annual Gala, launching its mission with an outpouring of community support and a shared commitment to
fostering the talent and creativity of Romanian artists.
Almost a year later, we have been able to raise funds to collaborate with Art Movements Foundation in Romania with prize money for their 2nd annual drawing contest, and award five grants to Romanian artists. This year, we’re hoping to expand that impact, and spread the word about our nonprofit further in the Romanian art community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While it hasn’t been a particularly arduous journey so far, the application process to obtain our 501(c)3 tax free status was a very long and confusing process. But that designation is an absolute game changer in this sector. Not only is it important to our donors who have shared their hard-earned money to our mission and programs, but it also is the base-level standard that a charitable organization should meet. When that status was granted, we were able to begin our work in earnest, confident that we were meeting all of the expectations of transparency and accountability needed. Now we can focus more fully on the artists themselves, and can create the meaningful and impactful programs they can best benefit from.
The next hurdle for us is to get the word out. We have a strong mission, all the right infrastructure, the right team for implementation, and a clear need. Letting people know about. us, and fundraising to a higher level will allow us to do more, and do it better.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Aripa Arte?
Aripa Arte is a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting and promoting Romanian visual artists, both within Romania and internationally. Our mission is to empower these artists to build
thriving careers and sustainable art businesses. We fund our work through a combination of corporate and private donations, grants, program revenue, and partnerships with like-minded organizations.
Guided by our Board of Directors, we prioritize programming that addresses the specific needs of the artists we serve. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity, all contributions to Aripa Arte are tax-deductible, helping us drive meaningful change in the Romanian art community while fostering creativity and opportunity.
With all of the needs that surround us daily, and the competition Aripa Arte faces when seeking the attention and generosity of the public, what makes us different is the impact our work has on the history of contemporary art itself. Artists have always depended upon the support of patrons, and in a real way, allowing emerging artists to continue their work is to become part of their history, part of the contribution they make to the art world of their time. I think that elevates the role patrons of the arts plays greatly.
What’s next?
Aripa Arte is still in the initial implementation of many of our programs, and we’re still developing relationships with artists, collectors, institutions, and funders. That is what we will be working on in the short term. Looking ahead though, there is so much more that we can do. We are trying to establish a model that can scale over time. Today we have a direct relationship with Romania, and as we become better at what we do, and understand more completely the role of our nonprofit in this sector, we hope to expand our mission to include artists in other areas of the world. There is no limit to the amount of talented artists that populate our world, but the inequality in accessing global art markets is huge. We want to help bridge those gaps, and expose collectors to amazing artists they might not otherwise meet, and allow those artists to create sustainable art careers to support their work for a lifetime.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aripaarte.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aripaarte/?hl=en
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aripa-arte-70a958278/
- Twitter: https://x.com/AripaArte
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AripaArte
Image Credits
Bogdan FotoArt
