Autistic artists selling their work at Venice's Goodwill bookstore

VENICE — A new opportunity has now offered a special group of local artists a way to share and sell their artwork, thanks to a collaboration between two longtime partner nonprofits.

Easterseals Southwest Florida and Goodwill Manasota — two groups that regularly collaborate to aid those with disabilities in finding and retaining employment — came together again in late 2023 for a new project aimed at helping adults.

Artwork made through Easterseals’ Art Initiative Program was chosen to be transferred to Goodwill’s Albee Farm Bookstore in Venice to display and sell.

To honor this year’s theme, “Empowering Autistic Voices,” of World Autism Awareness Month, the new program opened earlier this month to recognize residents in the community who have participated in the art program.

Those with autism often have some level of difficulty with verbal self-expression, with some being non-verbal or nearly non-verbal, Goodwill Manasota director of community engagement Pavitra Ciavardone said.

“Art can serve as a powerful outlet for self-expression and imagination, and this program has really allowed some of our non-verbal members to create a language of their own,” Ciavardone said.

ESF’s Art Initiative Program took five of their members on a field trip to view their artwork now on display at Goodwill’s Albee Farm Bookstore in Venice Friday morning.

The group was able to see their hours of hard work and talent come to life on the shelves of the local bookstore, including watercolor paintings, abstract, 3-D recycled art and pottery.

Easterseals President and CEO Tom Waters said the most important aspect of the pilot program is that artists will not only get the pleasure of creating the art but also benefit from 100% of the proceeds from a sale.

Seventy percent will be given to artists, while thirty percent will go to ESF’s art program for supplies like brushes, canvases, paint and other materials.

“The magic of this program is that it’s providing our adults access to our community as well as to making a paycheck — something we all feel good about,” Waters said.

The ESF president said the pilot program’s field trip component offers confidence building, ambassador opportunities and communication skills for the Art Initiative Program’s members.

If all goes well, Ciavardone said Goodwill will explore possible additional bookstore locations in which to sell the art.

“Venice is such a great community to get this program started in, so we are hoping this will take off and give our adult artists the exposure to expand to other places,” she said.

Those interested in buying a piece of artwork can visit Goodwill’s Albee Farm Bookstore Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.