Indiegogo

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The Patronopolis

a community supporting amy martin's work in progress

  • Team:

    637437 574866 788935 950537 see more »

  • Location:Missoula, Montana, United States

  • Category:Community

The Patronopolis is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of The Patronopolis must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Hi, I'm Amy.

I'm a composer, musician, writer, teacher and community builder living in Missoula, Montana. For 11 years, I've been following a path of committed, concentrated artistic work. I have accomplished things I'm proud of. I want to do more.


  • Read about current projects
  • Listen to mp3s (my songs are also available on iTunes, Pandora, Rhapsody and other music sites)
  • Watch one-minute videos about my process and projects

More about my credentials:
  • released eight albums
  • founded the Missoula Coyote Choir and other alternative music programs
  • used my work to raise money and awareness for things I believe in (see below)
  • opened for some of my musical heroes, like the Indigo Girls and Ani DiFranco

My need: support for works-in-progress.

In business, education and the non-profit world, people are paid to grow ideas and develop new projects. As an artist, it's different. The crucial "research and development" process -- the heart of my work -- is unpaid. This is what I'm asking you to help with.


I'm doing what I can to support myself. I sell CDs and mp3s, apply for grants, do project-based fund raising, take on commissions, teach, and more. But there's still a gap. Because long before there is a CD to sell or a project to pitch to the world, I go through a process of incubation, experimentation, editing and collaboration. It's the period of not-knowing, of wandering around blindly in the dark -- and it's where all the most potent stuff is born.


I need support for this difficult, exciting, edgy part of my process. And so do thousands of other artists.

My solution: The Patronopolis.

In the past, artists could develop new work under the protection of a patron -- one wealthy individual or institution. But with the new tools of the internet, I see an opportunity for a different form of patronage to evolve, one that is more democratic and egalitarian.


I'm calling it the Patronopolis: a combination of patron (supporter) and polis (a group of citizens). It's a new way to build community around a creative individual, and to invite a supportive group into the process of making and sharing art. By contributing to the Patronopolis, you'll be helping me to dream bigger, create more boldly, and give more back, and you'll also be joining a community that will help stoke your creative fires.


I invented the Patronopolis because I need it, but I know I'm not alone. With your help, the Patronopolis could become a model used by artists all over the world.



More about my work:

Here's a short summary of three of my projects:



Ask the Planet
In 2007, I was commissioned by the Biomimicry Institute to write all the music for this album, which teaches biomimicry concepts and features Brandi Carlile, Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn, Dar Williams, Laura Love, Allison Miller, Todd Sickafoose, Julie Wolf, Adam Levy and other nationally-recognized artists. These are pictures of the recording process, which took place at a ranch in western Montana.



















This Fall
In 2001, I knew I had to do something to express my solidarity with women in Afghanistan. So I made an album and used it to raise $10,000 for health and education programs there. I chose the Afghan Institute of Learning to receive the funds, an amazing organization led by Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, pictured here.












Missoula Coyote Choir
I founded, direct and compose songs for this kids' singing group, which focuses on environmental stewardship, healthy creative community, and having fun. Comprised of kids from throughout Missoula and the surrounding area, we meet weekly, perform often, and complete an environmental service project every year. Here we are (1) opening for Ani DiFranco, (2) recording Ask the Planet, (3) learning about local food at the Missoula PEAS farm.









Coyote Choir members pay a fee to participate, but with support from the Patronopolis, I'll be able to offer more scholarship opportunities, and do more to get these kids' voices heard by a wider audience.


Current projects: what your contribution will support.

Your support will help me to move forward on a variety of projects, including:
    • working on a musical featuring a young girl living in a world radically altered by global warming
    • researching and writing essays about creativity and community
    • researching and writing a performance piece about third-graders' visions for the future
    • collaborating on a community photography & found sound installation
    • composing new music for dance and film
    • continuing to lead the Missoula Coyote Choir and other community music programs
    • and more!

Sounds cool...but what's in it for me?

Joining the Patronopolis means belonging to a lively creative community. You'll be invited to watch my projects unfold and give feedback, and I'll help stoke your creative fires by giving the group fun challenges, like music video contests or songwriting prompts. Everything I do this year will be accomplished thanks to YOU, and hopefully your artistic muscles will get some exercise too.

This is also a chance to satisfy your inner visionary. You'll be helping to build a new model for nourishing human creativity -- how often do you get participate in something like that?

The Patronopolis is for you if:

  • you're inspired by adventure and innovation
  • you believe in the power of grassroots movements to make significant changes
  • you'd like more fun, art and community in your life
  • you'd enjoy helping the projects below come to life

More about the core principles of the Patronopolis.

More about how the Patronopolis works.


I'm convinced, and I want to tell the world!


If you have questions, I'd love to hear from you.

...thank you!

Team on This Campaign: