YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Ophelia's Making Agency, a nonprofit in York that started a little more than a year ago, is helping minority artists and entrepreneurs get their work out and into the community.
The goal is to help creatives from all different backgrounds and experience levels feel confident with their business while learning how to market their craft.
The agency is on a corner of West Market Street, and it's hard to miss with its bright colors emitting from both inside and out of two buildings.
One building is known as the foundation of the Making Agency, where the founder and fine artist, Ophelia Chambliss, has her own studio as well as a space to have consultations with entrepreneurs—artists, writers, mechanics, hairdressers, etc.
“It started as an idea, I always was giving people support and answering questions about their art business and how they can make a living at this," Chambliss said.
This support can look like establishing a pricing formula, registering their business name, overall answering business questions these individuals may have.
The second building is known as the Studio Art Group. It provides affordable studio and gallery spaces to independent creators.
“There's a beauty and a continuity of being able to have a space that you can do your work and not be at your kitchen table,” Chambliss said.
These artists are also able to show and sell their work in the space.
"It's an industry that very seldom people teach you about how to make a living at this. And you know, it's a professional industry," Chambliss said.
Some of these individuals are new to the art field.
Chevella White, who is a local Class-A tractor trailer driver, began her new business this year: Chevy's Bead, Bling, and Creative Things.
White has always worn bold statement jewelry, and now she creates her own.
"It's been a blessing, to have an opportunity to share space with other creatives to learn about the world of creative art, something that I'm newly introduced to," White said.
Some of these artists have returned to their creative space.
Jan Zayatz, who is a landscape artist, studied art in college, "But then, you know, real life happened.”
"Now that the kids are raised, and the grandkids are on their own, doing their thing, I can now do my thing. So it's really just been a wonderful opportunity," Zayatz said.
And some of these individuals started art at an early age and never left.
Adam Torres is a painter with a focus on nature and the owner of Brilliant Art By Adam.
For Torres, “It started at age seven, going to camp for underprivileged kids. And I was doing art…from there, I became an art teacher at that same camp I was going to when I was 13.
“A lot of my paintings were sitting in the house for years. So I've learned that in order to get your stuff out, you really need to communicate with other people,” Torres said.
Ophelia's hope is to provide an empowering environment to do so.
“I think that talent is one of those things, you can't train into somebody. And I feel very strongly…talent is created equally, but opportunities are not,” Chambliss said.
And at Ophelia's Making Agency, the opportunities are endless.
“I would love for people to explore opportunities such as the one that I've been afforded, to begin to get your creativity wheels running and to be able to create things that you never thought you would be able to create before,” White said.
Ophelia plans to open a third building across the street that will include more art studios, gallery spaces for artists to share their work, as well as classrooms for artists to teach in. Her current space is located at 251 - 253 W. Market St. in York.