Project Overview

Mission Statement

Bringing to life the inner color of our animal companions in a community of art and animal rescue.

Overview

Enchanted Animals is a creative movement in which artists from many different disciplines create work to promote adoption of shelter pets. The animals are depicted in an imaginative way at each artists’ discretion and are promoted by both the artists and the shelters to bring animals in need to the attention of potential adopters.

Background

The project was started in early 2017 by artist Emily Bartos where she combined digital illustration and basic animation with original and free stock photography to tell the story of animals in shelters and fosters in a magical, whimsical way in hopes of getting them adopted. The animals that became “enchanted” were ones that had their longest stay at their shelters as well as animals that had a more difficult time being adopted due to individual circumstances.

Emily’s process involved creating an initial illustration of an animal and then promoting them with their information and photographs on her blog and social media. Following the initial blog, animals went on continued adventures through storytelling and put into a different scenario to continue to share on social media and increase visibility for that answer. It was encouraged that rescues also share the posts to increase visibility. Once an animal was adopted, she created congratulatory imagery and shared that as well.

Emily also runs a merchandise shop through Society6 and sells merchandise of her Enchanted Animals where profits are donated to the rescues.

Emily’s Enchanted Animal Project Page: http://www.emilybartos.com/enchanted-animals/

The Suggested Process

Project coordinators Lauren Braier and Emily Bartos will contact a handful of shelters and rescues to initially work with, and from there we will recruit artists to match them with. This naturally will be an ongoing process and our hopes is that this project will grow into something really amazing to benefit the animal rescue community.

Scope of Work and Expectations for Artists

• Artists are limited to 1 (maybe 2) shelters initially in which they work with. This may change as the project grows.
• Artists may leave the project at any time for any reason.
• Artists are to create a minimum of one creation per month for their assigned shelter. If an artist needs to stop or pause for any reason, that must be communicated with Emily and Lauren and then that will be brought to the attention of the shelter. In certain cases, if an artist is unable to put in the time, the shelter may be reassigned.
• Artists will work directly with the shelters when it comes to getting information on animals to be created for this project, but enchantedanimalsproject@gmail.com must ALWAYS be cc’ed so we can oversee communication and be sure both parties are getting what they need.
• Enchanted Animals will not start with a website, so for the time being artists are to promote their work on social media channels, portfolios, and websites. Artists must provide files to be posted online with Emily and Lauren so we can keep an archive of the project as well as put the images on our instagram (@enchanted.animals)
• Artists will be assigned shelters based on availability, if there are any rescues that they are particularly interested in, or if a shelter has any specific desires for creative.
• Artists have creative freedom of their work. They are not owned by Enchanted Animals or the shelters. Any arrangements for merchandising, sale, or otherwise is handled by the individual. Enchanted Animals does not host merchandise for sale by other artists, our purpose is to community build and help animals. There are no immediate plans to have an Enchanted Animals website, that is dependent on project growth.
• In this projects beginnings, there may be a waitlist for rescue assignments. If we have more artists signed up than shelters we are partnered with, that artist will have to wait until more become available. At that time, we will contact the artists accordingly.
• We are going to continue recruiting as the project grows, and we encourage all artists to help with that, whether it be finding fellow artists or finding new rescues to work with.
• Your process with how you share your work and manage the project is up to you, feel free to ask your rescue for strategy and ideas as well so everyone’s needs are met. Feel free to ask Emily and Lauren if you have any questions or concerns about this.
• If you share on social media ALWAYS tag your rescue!
• The artist should always reach out to the rescue first to request materials for their creations. Rescues are very busy places and they get a pass on communication liability.
• If the shelter requests more than one animal a month, the artist reserves the right to agree or turn this down.

Expectations for Shelters and Rescues

• Shelters and rescues can leave the project at any time for any reason. We will simply remove from the roster and assign their artist to a different rescue.
• In this project’s beginnings, there may be a waitlist for artist assignments. If there are more shelters than artists, that organization will have to wait until a new artist comes on board.
• Rescues are encouraged to network with other rescues they might be affiliated with and bring them on board.
• Rescues handle their own social media shares, but are encouraged to share artists’ social media posts that contain Enchanted Animals content. This increases visibility and makes the likelihood that an animal will find an adopter so much greater. This helps promote the artist, the shelter, and rescue efforts nation wide. Everyone wins.
• If you have any specifics for your artist, please communicate with them and us. All correspondence via email should be cc’ed to enchantedanimalsproject@gmail.com
• You are in charge of your own social media channels but are welcome to ask us for any ideas or strategy assistance
• If you are unhappy with your artist’s work or have any concerns whatsoever, please contact Emily and Lauren and not the artist. This way we can judge whether or not an artist reassignment is necessary.
• If you share on social media ALWAYS tag your artist and Enchanted Animals!
• If artists aren’t being credited or tagged in social media shares and image use, the artist reserves the right to drop their rescue group. If your rescue is in need of social media assistance, our team is here for you. Our team may also confront shelters that aren’t tagging their artists in their work. If this continues, EA may choose to remove your rescue group from the project.
• Any extra projects you might wish for your artist to take on is separate from Enchanted Animals.
• Artists are not expected to merchandise or sell their work, and that decision is their own as they own the work they create. If you wish to receive assets from your artist and any way, that is to be handled directly with them. We do not manage our artists beyond the mission and community of Enchanted Animals. Artists are not required to sell work for shelter donation, although we encourage it.
• If shelters are not providing information and imagery for the minimum of one animal a month, the rescue will be removed from the project so the artist can remain active.
• Artists are responsible for any initial request for materials on adoptable animals they are to work with. Shelters have the option to reach out first as well as request the artist do more if that artist has time. Artists are only required to do one animal a month.

Project Disclaimers

As this project is in its initial stages, all the above expectations are subject to change dependent on growth, artist to rescue relationships and communication, and testing methods. Participating artists and rescues will be notified of any changes. Since this is a community network we are providing, Artists are free to leave the project and follow their own endeavor without the backing of Enchanted Animals. The benefits to being a part of this community are increased exposure, an experienced team managing the community, as well as being partnered with a large database of shelters across the country. We encourage independent creativity.

As previously mentioned, we have no plans to have a website at this time. If the community becomes large enough and gets enough interest, we may pursue that as well as other social media platforms.

This project is not for profit to Enchanted Animals or affiliated rescues. Any donations that occur do not go to Enchanted Animals and are handled through the artists if applicable. Artists are not required to handle donations to shelters at this time.

Project Contacts

Emily Bartos, Co-coordinator and Artist (Madison)

Lauren Braier, Co-coordinator and Artist (Milwaukee)

Caitlin Ledger, Public Relations