SAGA

About SAGA

We are artists and we understand the struggle of artists. We're also passionate about the environment. We've combined our love of the arts with our enthusiasm for green engineering to create a sustainable event venue/resort. In addition to creating opportunities for many artists, we rehabilitate qualified working artists who have become homeless or who are in danger of homelessness due to job loss or lack of opportunity. We create jobs for artists and teach them alternative "green" lifestyles that reduce carbon footprint, allow artists to thrive together, and brings tourism to our rural community. Our projects are documented in educational media and provided to the general public to inspire and encourage people to support their local artists and to work towards a greener world. As artists, we see the future as it may become, and we are working towards building a sustainable and beautiful world for everyone to enjoy.

The specific objectives and purpose of this organization shall be:

1. purpose one; Testing ecological & green engineering in a sustainable community.

2. purpose two; Creating opportunities for artists that encourage tourism in a low-income rural area.

3. purpose three; Rehabilitating qualified working artists that are in danger of homelessness or providing temporary and safe housing alternatives for transient working artists.

4. purpose four; Improving the industrial ecology of surrounding communities by recycling, re-purposing, and finding creative uses for things other people may have no use for. The community works towards reducing carbon footprint and increasing creative and efficient use of materials available, thus reducing the depletion of natural resources.

5. purpose five; Providing the public with educational media and recreational opportunities.

Where it began

The idea for SAGA was born in October 2019 when NWA Artist/Astrologer, G Desiree Fultz, was looking at astrology charts for 2020 event planning. Not everyone believes in astrology, and that's okay, but in this case, it prompted her to take action. She saw some coming transits that bring with them the probability of worldwide pandemic and disaster. Not only concerned about the future for her own family, she started to envision new ways to strengthen community, especially among artists, because the times coming would require teamwork and visionary new ideas to adjust to a new world.

Desiree reached out to a handful of other local artists that also have bright minds, integrity, and hearts for philanthropic endeavors, and The Sustainable Arts Guild of Arkansas was born. This team of motivated creatives started working behind the scenes immediately to develop the formation of the guild. The pandemic came on faster than anticipated. In the midst of the chaos, it has not stopped us from creating this arts guild- It's mission will be vital in the survival of many artists in our region. 

We believe in community, equal opportunity, and education. We believe artists have the vision to BE the change in a world that no longer operates like it used to. Join us in a colorful approach to creating a greener world. Meet our board of directors:

Description of End Goal

Ultimately, we are artists. Freedom of expression and a stable environment for creative work is important to a productive creative lifestyle. To keep creative flow rich, artists perform better when they are not starving or stressed out about housing. We want to be surrounded by a world of art where there is freedom to be expressive where there is enough peace and quiet to facilitate the state most artists need to maintain a state of creativity. In larger cities, there are so many distractions, and restrictions by architectural committees and home owners associations that there are cookie cutter homes as far as the eye can see. Many artists struggle to afford standardized housing on their creative income. How many artists are ruined working a 9 to 5 job that is not creative, just to pay rent in standard housing that doesn't feed their creative needs or their bellies? And then there's no energy or inspiration left for creative work.

For artists who need more color and variety in their surroundings, cookie cutter life is not a healthy environment for fostering creativity. Many artists find that it is easier to be inspired in a community where expression is not inhibited by left brained minds who often sit at the head of city planning committees. Artists need more districts where they can be free to create together in working communities and break away from the norms of conventional urban development.

People need to be able to feed themselves, to provide for themselves, and to be true to their nature before they can evolve to be their best. Many urban areas do not facilitate the ability for people to access earth for gardening. One or two plants in an apartment complex does not equate to the joy of stepping out into a lush garden or abundant green house filled with food and flowers. It is truly healing. Our community is built around nature with sustainability in mind. We incorporate permaculture into the design of the resort so food and wildlife can thrive in the same place where people work and play. There are community gardens, raised gardens, greenhouses, and wild edibles. The idea is to build small dwellings that are comfortable, beautiful in their construction, each one unique, powered with renewable energy, able to sustain it's occupants with food, and something so extraordinary that people who live in boring cookie-cutter cities will drive for hours to experience.

When artists work in close-knit communities, the most amazing ideas can be realized! We are fortunate to have found land with rural RV zoning which allows for alternative lifestyles and alternative dwellings to be erected that have no zoning appropriation as in larger towns. Artists can express themselves here! A healing retreat for any imagination that needs a boost. Of course, we will follow building standards to ensure safety and lasting quality and craftsmanship.

Imagine if every metropolis zoned a space for artists communities! Where codes are only for safety and otherwise there is no limit to the artistic expression of any structure erected. There could be a faerie tree house constructed next to a bush craft A frame, or a paisley yurt next to a tiny little stone castle. Each design completely original, decked with the latest green technology, and all on a micro scale to reduce carbon footprint and reduce the depletion of natural resources. Each surrounded by gardens, lit paths that have motion detectors to save energy- so as you walk the trails cut through the forest, they automatically light your path and turn off after you pass. Music floats on the breeze by the WiFi connected wireless surround sound solar-powered speakers that can be synced to a device's Bluetooth. Possibilities are endless!

Most of our events are to be all-ages and open to the public. They generally have a theme, pageantry, live performing arts, games, activities, attractions, crafters, food, local community mom n pop business to business and traveling artists/vendors from other areas. In between events, we focus on liquidations/recyling, creating odd jobs for artists in between gigs, building the resort, adding infrastructure, and tending the land.

Sure, there are a lot of 'hippie-like' artist communes who have created sustainable private farms that are good for the earth, but our project stands out for several reasons:

1. Most sustainable 'communities' are not open to the public. They host residency for a few families or artists but generally do not welcome outsiders. Some of our dwellings will not have permanent tenancy, and therefore open to the public and anyone can experience them during seasonal openings! Some of our structures may be temporarily housing working artists, and others will be open for AirBNB and event guests.

2. Many sustainable communities are 'primitive' and crude in their set-up for the sake of functionality only. We have embraced the Bauhaus philosophy that 'form follows function'. In other words, we think useful things should also look fabulous. Sure, a bucket painted black with a hole poked in it makes a solar shower, but we believe it should look like art AND be useful. So we are not building just a 'common' camp ground. We want to provide a refreshing and inspiring experience that fosters revolutionary ideas. Everything we build will have an artist's touch.

3. Many sustainable communities are too caught up in cult-like activities or dominated by a religious sect that blur the lines of church and state. We are an educational charitable entity that supports constitutional rights, equal opportunity, and we keep our events generally separate from any kind of dogma or religious associations. We want anyone from any walk of life to feel welcome here. We foster an omnistic and egalitarian philosophy.

4. Most sustainable communities have no built-in economy to support its residents. Many are filled with people who generally want to be separate from society at large and the community is often more of an escape from responsibility to society. Our community is focused on co-operating and trading with society at large and more of an escape for our guests to be thrilled and inspired by something out of the ordinary! We welcome the public and their tourism dollars which help our community thrive. Between events, there are odd jobs for our artists. Tax revenues generated at our events which go beyond our local community.

Why is it critical to address the problem now?

Our project is a multi-faceted endeavor that seeks to solve several layers of problems in one solution with major impact. The problems we address include but are not limited to homelessness, hunger/nutrition, pollution, unemployment, etc. We can do this with experimental technology, sustainable micro-housing, job creation, recycling/upcycling, and hands-on education that change the way people think and apply themselves. It's imperative that we address these issues now, before we loose good people to the downward spiral of joblessness, homelessness, starvation, and criminal activity. It is not just their problem, it is OUR problem.

Homelessness is not limited to lazy, drug-addicted, mentally ill people. Of course, society has a responsibility to care for its homeless population. Not all homeless people are without shelter because of laziness, drugs, or mental illness. Job loss, divorce, period of illness, and hardship can bring homelessness into one's experience. Some homeless people are very hard working, educated with college degrees, have families, or just have a hard time finding gainful employment due to lack of opportunities withing their reach, or other factors.

Homelessness can leave innocent people exposed to crime, rape, disease, harsh living conditions, malnutrition, and even death. It's a downward spiral that's very difficult to climb out of alone. It is sad that people who served our country (veterans), and people who worked their way through college and got degrees can't find job that pay well enough to cover basic necessities of life, or they work in fields were there are no local job opportunities. Most cities that do have shelters and programs for homeless people are underfunded, and expose people to situations that are unsanitary, unsettling, and so restrictive that getting out of the cycle seems hopeless. Most homeless shelters are non profits that rely on donations for them to survive.

Homeless people often become burdens to tax payers as they receive unemployment, welfare, and add to crime on the streets. Many troubled teens become homeless as soon as they become adults and they are turned out into the public, often turning to lives of crime to survive. Many of them just need the right opportunity to thrive and develop their noble qualities.

By teaching people new ways of thinking, living, and working, micro communities can be established that support and sustains themselves. Communities of people who were once a drain to society will be able to carry themselves proudly as they emerge into a new way of life that is good to the earth, good for the economy, and good for community. We are creating a society within society that thrives on ideas others have not considered, turns waste into usable products, fixes what is broken, and takes time to water the flowers. This socio-ecological environment is aimed at developing a model for a thriving society that cares about the environment, reduces carbon footprint with new technology, and people that contribute more than they consume. 

Our projects have impacted many lives in our region. It will continue to impact the lives of thousands of people in our area and beyond. Our projects and events have created hundreds of job opportunities and brought thousands of people joy and unique experiences. Our projects have inspired thousands of people to be more aware of personal environmental accountability, sustainability and resources availability to them. And we have helped people get back on their feet from periods of homelessness and joblessness. Each of those people carry ripples into extended communities as beacons of wisdom to others going through similar experiences.

This corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.