The Steel Yard
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The Steel Yard focuses on educating the public, offering opportunities to artists, and preserving the industrial arts. In 2004, The Steel Yard launched Urban Furniture/Public Art (UFPA), an earned income initiative designed to unite the educational and creative missions of The Steel Yard while contributing revenue to advance the organization's mission and decrease dependence on philanthropy and grant income. UFPA commissions individual artists to design and produce its products (rubbish barrels, benches, bicycle weathervanes, etc.), and markets them to municipalities, local business associations, real estate developers, architects and private parties.
On its own The Steel Yard achieved $140,000 in revenue in 2006. Since 2004, The Steel Yard has disbursed commissions of over $200,000 to more than 60 local artists through UFPA. All profits are re-invested in The Steel Yard's community courses and youth programs, which offer training in metal work and other traditional crafts to underserved communities. In 2006, The Steel Yard began working with SVPRI to refine its business plan and financial controls towards increasing annual revenue to $400,000 within the next five years.
Through our work with SVPRI we have refined our ideas and focused our strengths as a community organization, a diverse group of artists, and a competitive business. Howie Sneider, Public Project and Urban Furniture Coordinator
From legal advice to time management, SVPRI offers incredible insight and advice with major decisions while keeping our values as an organization in mind and at the core of their work. Howie Sneider, Public Project and Urban Furniture Coordinator