The Gallery

If you just started following VAP or maybe just got involved with The 6th Branch (T6B) in many of our service projects, you may not know that VAP and T6B occupied a loft space at Skylofts Gallery in Baltimore City for about 18 months.  We had some amazing events there, including a fundraiser for adults with Autism, movie-screening nights, concerts and art shows, and even P90X and Insanity workouts!

Leasing the gallery was the first joint move that VAP and T6B made early on in the relationship and it was a bold decision, especially since it required board members from each organization to become lease-holders.  We felt it was important to step into the community with a sense of purpose and determination by showing that we were serious about creating a footprint and bringing people together under our mission to serve veterans.

We were both very young organizations with only a few months under our belt and most seasoned non-profits would have probably told us not to commit to that level of overhead up front. We wanted to make a statement.  One thing it forced us to do was to continue to create opportunitities for the organization when times were tough.  Because we were locked into a lease, we couldn't simply throw in the towel when we became overwhelmed or less motivated on any given day. Trust me, early on the life of any non-profit, those days come around often as creating momentum is a labor of love. It forced us to think outside the box and continue to bring people on board who could infuse energy and help shape the vision of both organizations.

As an arts organization, the loft provided VAP the legitimacy to other institutions and artists that we could be a resource to the community.  For T6B, it created a space to meet and organize, especially as we started to take on larger projects.

What I will always remember and forever be thankful for is the committment of Rich Blake, Dennis Robinson, and Greg Lamberson in having the courage and will to step into a decision to lease that space. The money and time committed was an investment in the lives and careers of every VAP and T6B member's life. Both organizations now have the leverage and clout to reach out to institutions and venues in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. Whether it is to use their space for performances or partner for ongoing projects, they know we are serious and we have the portfolio to prove it. 

While I wouldn't recommend every organization take on that level of committment up front, there comes a time when you will have to ask yourself how far you are willing to go to turn your idea and vision into a tangible reality.