WHAT IS RAW?
RAW:natural born artists is an independent arts organization, for artists, by artists.
Our mission is to provide independent artists of all creative genres, with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity. RAW educates emerging artists through seminars, workshops and insight to further the knowledge of their industry.
RAW connects them with one another so that they might grow together, while providing them with opportunities to give back to their own local youth communities through the arts.
We encourage the creative success of the many visionaries and storytellers of our generation.
RAW operates in 21 cities across the United States.
We do this through two main avenues:
(1) GRASSROOTS SHOWCASE EVENTS
RAW hand-picks and spotlights local artistic talent in film, fashion, music, visual art, hair & makeup artistry, and performance art. With artists from all genres in each showcase, RAW events come together to form an amazing one night circus of creativity.
What can you expect when attending RAW Showcase? We screen an independent film (usually a short, webisode or music video), a fashion show from an up-and-coming local designer, a musical performance, an art gallery featuring several independent visual artists, and performance art (comedy/dance/fire dancers, you name it...). You'll get a little taste of everything. Combine all this creativity with drinks, fun, and good company! To partake in the experience, RSVP ($10/ticket) to any of our 21 monthly, city showcases by clicking on the city tab via the homepage!
(2) ONLINE ARTS COMMUNITY
www.RAWartists.org is designed to showcase our RAW artists online. RAW hosts a plethora of online profiles -- exclusive to our hand-picked RAW artists. RAWartists.org is open to the public to view, however, the site profiles and perks are reserved for only selected RAW artists. RAW artists can connect with other RAW artists, post videos, music and promote upcoming projects, upcoming events and track their success.
The RAW season runs from February to October every year, hosting a multi-faceted arts event every month in 21 different cities nationwide. RAW currently hosts monthly showcases in: Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Ana, Pomona, Riverside, Santa Monica, San Diego, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville, Austin, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
RAW takes applications year round. We encourage and welcome any creative expression to apply as we hope to be a platform for the countless artists living and working in communities around us. If you would like to be considered for RAW, please submit your work by CLICKING HERE.
RAWards
RAW's Annual Indie Awards Show: At the end of season RAW invites the community to vote for their top five favorite artists of the year in film, fashion, music, art, photography, performing art, accessories, hair and makeup. RAW takes that popular vote and narrows down nominees in each city location. We then ask the community to place a live vote (complete with a ballot) at a special City Semi-Final nominee showcase in November. One winner from every city, in every category is chosen by the community (i.e RAW:Denver, Fashion Designer of the Year). One winner from every city in every category goes on to be judged by the RAW panel of industry professionals in each field. The scores are based on criteria in skill, creativty, wow factor and professionalism. The winners are announced online in December, and honored with their awards at our annual RAWards Show in Hollywood, CA (mid-January). The winners receive big career boosting prizes like distribution, store placement, studio time, gallery placement and consultations with industry executives and professionals. It's truly an awesome event with performances and highlights from the RAW season.
RAW: RESOURCES
RAW gathers industry professionals, resources and press to help further each artists career and exposure. RAW coordinates tutorials, seminars and workshops that artists can take part in. These resources are designed to help educate them on the business side of the arts.
RAW: COMMUNITY
RAW encourages their artists to get involved with community issues and help inspire creativity. RAW connects artists with local youth programs. Once a quarter, selected RAW artists visit the Boys and Girls Club in their local area and teach creative RAWketeers Workshops to the kids (singing, dancing, painting, photography, etc...)
RAW:IS GREEN
Serving as a link between the arts community, industry professionals, press and like organizations, RAW aspires to—with the help of many of its supporters—connect and unify creative individuals … all the while, promoting public and social good. One of the many ways?
All of our events are planned, promoted and produced eco-friendly.
1. The RAW production team conference calls during the production of an event, leaving the least amount of carbon footprint.
2. RAW purchases Carbon Offsets annually (www.CarbonFund.org) to cancel any carbon pollution from guests attending our events (don't worry, we've got you covered!)
3. RAW never prints a flyer or a ticket. All of our promotion is executed through online promotions, text messaging, and email.
4. When RAW does have to print, we print on recycled paper only.
5. When RAW needs to convey information at an event we use projection, rather than a printed program.
6. RAWartists.org hosts the website, email server, and data files on 100% Solar Powered Energy provided by www.solar2web.com