The @MedViewsArts campaign total is up to $747 USD this morning. We have 8 days left to make goal y'all.

Just in case you're finding out now, or want to learn a bit more PLEASE ask me. I'll run through the main and then go over the major reason why #medievalists should lean in.

Why a virtual arts festival? In no small part #COVIDー19 but also event costs are prohibitive to a LOT so if I can make something more accessible, like the wider medievalist community, I'm damn sure going to try.

The Arts inspire hope and remind us of our humanity. #medieval

I sit at a crossroads of creativity as the creator of early medieval coloring books. I know academics who practice medieval crafts, I know re-enactors who are doing amazing museum quality reconstructions. I know other content creators who practice the art of story telling.

Until June of this year I was the art instructor for an inner city primary school. I know how much showing one's passion for the global medieval past can impact a child's love for learning.

What I propose with @MedViewsArts is to create an event that fosters a safe space for us

Because doing so allows positive memories to be made. Those, in turn, form the basis for a common ground that I think at this stage we all know #medieval studies needs regardless of our region of focus.

There are some things that I want to address with this virtual festival aside from all of the above though.

I want to be able to give any volunteers that help with logistics gift certificates to independent art supply and/or bookstores.

I want to be able to give those who decide to present a talk or do a keynote a small honorarium.

I want to be able to afford some carer stipends so that people who have life circumstances that require most of their attention can take some time for them to attend @MedViewsArts

Why is this all important? If you're someone who is still in an #academic dept and needing to justify certain aspects of a conference you really want but your university will probably say no to, follow the next part:

What happens to the status quo there if I succeed?

What happens is you have the means to succeed in those arguments. Which, in turn, means your future events have the greater potential to address some of the very large gaps that currently exist in public outreach.

Its a way to affect positive change. We need desperately need it.

Anyways, just in case the link has moved from your feed here it is one more time. http://kck.st/38dtR2T 

Let's go #TeamArtParty!