“We realize the benefit and impact of buying art from your community,” explains Xavier Jackson on the “About Us” section of Local Art Plug’s website. “It strengthens bonds, creates friendships, and provides resources to your local artists.”
This is precisely why Jackson, a passionate advocate for local artists seeking to carve out their place in the creative world, founded Local Art Plug, an organization dedicated to helping art lovers find artists, artworks, and art events in their area so that they can connect with all three on a more personal level.
Jackson’s entry into the creative world began here in the Midwest, where he faced significant challenges gaining access to the local art scene. “Starting out my art journey in Omaha was very isolating,” Jackson recalled. “If you didn’t know anyone, it was hard to get into the art scene, especially if you were new and trying to get your name out there. It was difficult to find out who was doing what, and there wasn’t a central hub for creatives to connect. This inspired me to create a way for creatives to earn a living without leaving the state and to help mitigate brain drain in Omaha.”
With a clear vision, Jackson set out to create the Local Art Plug with a plan to work exclusively with those already established in the field. “Initially, we thought we’d only work with professional artists with gallery showings to gauge their seriousness about their art careers,” Jackson explained. “Soon, we found many artists faced barriers to having their first show due to financial reasons, lack of knowledge, or lack of connections. We decided to work with artists at any level, guiding them through the process.”
Jackson’s mission was not without its hurdles. “In the beginning, it was an uphill battle. Many people saw the Local Art Plug as competition and didn’t understand our mission,” he said. “I reached out to many people at art shows, and over time, our actions spoke louder than words. As the team demonstrated the commitment to building and educating the art community, it became easier.”
Luke Armstrong, Jackson’s friend and the co-founder of RenMind as well as the senior product designer at Brightflow AI, provided additional insight into his journey. “[Jackson]’s good at listening and understanding local artists. We met at a startup collaborative called The Chamber Project,” Armstrong said. “We both recognized that artists needed more exposure to make our community more vibrant and cooler.” Armstrong admired Jackson’s perseverance and community-focused approach.
The growth of the Local Art Plug relied heavily on innovative marketing strategies. “Our strategy involves being consistent and repetitive,” Jackson noted. “We share our events in Facebook groups that might have community members interested in the arts, boosting our reach significantly. We also use guerrilla marketing, posting flyers in local coffee shops and handing them out at larger events.”
Looking ahead, Jackson has ambitious plans for the Local Art Plug. “We have several plans for the future,” he revealed. “This includes expanding physical locations in different states, hosting art shows where artists travel between galleries, and licensing our software for the Metaverse to larger companies and organizations for virtual events.”
Jackson’s dedication to Omaha’s art community transformed the Local Art Plug into a cornerstone for local artists. His journey from isolation to community leader highlighted the importance of persistence, community support, and innovative thinking in overcoming barriers and fostering artistic growth. Jackson’s vision continued to drive the Local Art Plug forward, promising a vibrant future for artists both locally and beyond.
For more information, visit localartplug.com
This article originally appeared in the August/September 2024 issue of B2B Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
