The NOT ON AMAZON Gallery & Community Space.

Aim

We are opening a not-for-profit Gallery and Community Art Space to expand the reach of the Facebook group NOT ON AMAZON.

NOT ON AMAZON is a Facebook group set up by Jamie Rackham in November 2020 to enable Artists and Creatives to sell their work online.

During the UK coronavirus lockdown of late 2020 Jamie Rackham set up the Facebook group NOT ON AMAZON. With no previous experience of social media groups Jamie was lucky enough to find a winning formula when he made a place for artists and creatives to showcase their work and connect with a large customer base.

At a time when all non-essential retail outlets were closed the group provided a lifeline to thousands of independently owned businesses and according to numerous accounts, literally helped people to keep their families fed during one of the most difficult periods in most of our lives.

Over the past year the group has grown to a membership of more than 150,000 people and as the UK came out of lockdown this summer Jamie started looking at ways to keep the group relevant and enable members to connect with each other in real life. A series of regional groups were set up for sharing local information and so far they've proven to be another highly popular resource. 

When the offer of a reasonably priced premises came up Jamie had another of his 'lightbulb moments'...

"The idea of a  NOT ON AMAZON gallery, cultural headquarters and community art space seemed like an incredible next step in the evolution of the project. A physical space for members of the group to display their work for sale and a place for like minded people to come to share information and ideas."

"In keeping with the NOT ON AMAZON ethos of promoting fairness and empowering independent businesses, not profiting from them, the gallery will be run on a not-for-profit model with lower than average commission rates and all profits being used for re-distribution or expansion of our model." 

Having been described as 'the Robin Hood of e-commerce for creatives and artists' by The Freelance Informer Jamie is clearly not in it for the money;

"I realised that I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to implement some kind of social change when the group reached 100,000 members so I chose to put everything else I was doing on hold. For the whole of the last year my income has been reliant on the kindness of strangers, it hasn't made me rich but it's enabled me to keep working on this project - it's overwhelming to think that so many people believe in what I'm doing and want me to continue." 

"This Crowdfunder is hoping to raise £4,500 to cover the gallery's set up costs, rent and bills for one year. Hopefully by year two it should be generating its own income. 

We'll soon be recruiting volunteers to come and work at the Gallery & Art Space and there's a lot of work to be done, from transforming an empty building into an inviting space, to running the place from day to day once the doors open. 

If we can make this work anywhere near as well as the Facebook group it will be an incredible thing for a lot of people."

What do we plan to do this money??

• We're lucky enough to be based in an area with relatively low property prices and we qualify for business rates relief so £2,400 will cover our first twelve months rent. 
• The insurance is going to cost us £320.00 
• We've estimated that our electricity bill will be around £100.00 per month averaged across the year.
• The lighting in the gallery will need upgrading to be sure the work can be displayed to best effect.. there's an electrician who can do this work free of charge but the fittings will cost around £600.00
• And the remaining £180.00 will pay for paint and decorating supplies.
• If we raise anything above our target amount we'll be able to spend it on fixtures, display cabinets, and the whole raft of things that we've doubtless not taken into consideration.

So Thanks In Advance

To anybody who's able to donate to this Crowdfunder. 

The NOT ON AMAZON Gallery and Community Art Space is going to provide a crucial link between the digital world and the real one as well as creating a unique facility in the Lydbrook area of The Forest of Dean.

This project successfully funded on 10th December 2021