About Live Yes Studios
Live Yes Studios (LYS) is a Nebraska nonprofit supporting adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities through a professional studio environment. Since opening in 2011, our resident artists have pursued creative expression, representation and community partnerships through daily classes, self-directed projects and gallery exhibitions in Lincoln, NE.
Mission
Supporting disabled artists in creative expression, representation and community partnerships through a professional studio environment that fosters artistic growth, collaboration and exhibition opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Who We Are
Live Yes Studios (LYS) originally opened in 2011 under a national nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia, PA. After 13 years, LYS became a Nebraska based nonprofit on July 1, 2024. We support adults with developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities by providing a structured day program with a professional studio environment. Our instructors work together with our resident artists to offer opportunities for learning, artistic growth, collaboration and gallery exhibition.
LYS is a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Developmental Disability (DD) provider agency and a Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) program of Medicaid. Nebraska has many HCBS options, but the diversity of specialized programming for disabled Nebraskans is severely limited. Many programs focus on employment and trips into the community to address inclusion, and some offer art supplies because they recognize the therapeutic value of art. However, no program in Nebraska resembles LYS. We offer an innovative approach to address isolation, mental health and economic struggles for disabled Nebraskans through creative expression, representation and community partnerships.
Our Values
The mission of LYS directly communicates our three primary values of creation, representation and community partnerships. We continue to develop our values as the studio grows its new identity, but first and foremost, LYS is a program run by artists, for artists, for the benefit of all.
Creation LYS employs local artists to teach visual and performing arts classes. These instructors assist artists in their self-directed projects for personal and artistic development. LYS creates adaptive equipment to make all art forms accessible to every artist, and our professional studio environment provides a space to access the tools and equipment necessary to pursue their ideas and increase agency and autonomy through the creative decision-making process.
Representation Since 2011, LYS has hosted 126 exhibitions showing the work of over 120 artists, and our artists have taken part in 46 community exhibitions across 8 states. We work with local and regional galleries to exhibit work beyond our gallery. Our monthly art shows allow Lincoln’s disabled artists to share their unique perspective and provide connection with the community. Beyond our art exhibitions, in 2019, LYS opened a gift shop to sell unique handmade goods. In December 2021, LYS created a production shop and online store to expand merchandise sales. Each artist can design and print their own mugs, shirts, coasters, bags, etc. and sell them in our gift shop and online store. Our gallery and gift shop provide access to alternative revenue streams, and each artist receives 70% of art sales and 30% of merchandise sales.
Community We are dedicated to community integration and building relationships through the communal love of art. We welcome the community into our gallery to enjoy the works of LYS artists. Exhibitions connect hundreds of community members to the artists as their viewers, patrons and clientele and offer opportunities for relationships, collaborations and exposure to all types of people. In 2018, LYS created a community gallery to exhibit emerging community artists alongside LYS artists. Community artists are invited to give an artist lecture or workshop. All events are free and open to the public.
What We Do
Each day we offer two different classes taught by our instructors and volunteer community members. Some class examples are drawing, painting, ceramics, textiles, printmaking, fiber arts and film production. We offer private lessons in music and have music software programs for creation (Logic and GarageBand).
We also invest in self-directed projects for personal artistic development and take weekly community trips to local galleries, museums, and parks. We provide resident artists with essential supplies for creating their work such as paint, canvases, paper, pencils, ink, wood, clay, music equipment, and much more. Visiting community artists also lead various lectures and workshops that are open and free to the public.
LYS also goes beyond the paintbrush to provide Independent and Supported Family Living services for disabled adults who live on their own or with their parents. These services have access to our studio and offer support to accomplish activities of daily living such as cleaning, cooking, shopping or participating in community activities. We are not currently taking on any additional people in our Supported Services.
Visual Arts
Our visual arts program offers daily classes in painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and sewing. Dedicated studio spaces include a screen printing and papermaking studio with silkscreens, an exposure unit and a four-color press; a production studio for sublimation printing, vinyl cutting and button-making; a 2D works studio stocked with charcoal, acrylic and oil paints; a ceramics studio with a kiln and electric wheels; a sculpture studio for large-scale work in wood, foam, metal and plaster; and a fiber arts studio with sewing machines, a loom and a tufting gun. We’ve offered over 710 quarter-length classes since 2011.
Performing Arts
Our performing arts program includes acting classes, podcast production, digital content creation, and film production and editing, supported by professional lighting, a green screen, and Adobe editing software. Resident artists can also take private lessons in guitar, songwriting, voice and piano, or join group music classes, using instruments including piano, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, ukulele and a range of percussion, alongside a full production setup with Logic and GarageBand.
When We Create
Resident artists may attend 8:30AM-3:30PM, Monday through Friday. We love visits from our community. Due to our daily activities and classes, please contact our Studio Program Manager, Samantha Weiland, at 402-904-4216 to set up a tour!
We curate visual and performing art shows each First Friday of the month. In our First Friday art exhibits we showcase resident artists’ work as well as emerging artists from the Lincoln community.
Where We Create
Our facilities include various studio spaces for learning: individual space, sculpture, ceramics, music production, printmaking, digital lab, podcast and music room, textiles, communal work space and gallery for presenting and critiquing work. All of what is created in our studio is sold in our gallery or at our gift shop, Gift Yes.
LYS is located at 1121 M Street, Suite 110 in Lincoln, NE. Reach us at 402-904-4216 or info@liveyesstudios.org.
Community Partners
Thank you to the local businesses and organizations who support our artists: