After Looky Here’s third annual fundraising campaign that concluded in December, the Greenfield non-profit and self-described artist clubhouse is looking to the future. 

At the end of their four-month fundraising campaign, the art gallery, store front and artist workshop located at 28 Chapman St. earned $25,000 of a $50,000 goal from donations, an online and in-person art auction, a “Looky Beer” partnership with the People’s Pint, and more. 

Although the $50,000 goal was not met, Looky Here President and Founder Hannah Brookman and Vice President Vanessa Brewster feel the high goal helped them raise more money than they did the previous two years, and helped them set some goals for the new year. 

“The thing about this year is we really pushed. We really did everything that we could,” Brewster said about their campaign. “I'm glad we set the bar that high, because we probably wouldn’t have got to $25,000.” 

Part of the incentive to raise $50,000 was that it would make the non-profit eligible for certain grants. But they’ve managed to meet some of their other goals with what they did raise.

“We’ve bought paper, we’ve paid ourselves,” Brookman said, with Brewster adding that the pair were able to hire someone to work at the shop on Saturdays, “Which is actually a huge deal, like one of the goals of our fundraiser.” 

The pair are looking to the future of the non-profit, hoping to enhance and sustain what they are already doing.

What Looky Here has been doing since it formed in November 2017 has seemingly worked. According to their website, Looky Here has hosted over 1,250 workshops, curated more than 40 gallery shows, trained over 100 people in Riso printing, organized more than 10 community festivals and rehomed boxes of art supplies.

Although they’ve had growth since the start, their sustainability goal has them seeking additional funding through grants and other sources in order to keep their exiting prices affordable, keep programming and events going, and to help Brookman and Brewster pay themselves above minimum wage, along with their staff, interns and artists who show at their gallery and host workshops. 

“We really want to be paying more people,” Brookman said. “We have a volunteer board, and the people that do stick around are really valuable to us, and we want to make sure we can compensate them for that work.” 

Both Brookman and Brewster spoke candidly about the fact that they spend hours putting together Looky Here’s programming and offering the services (like Riso printing) that generate revenue for the non-profit. Brookman said the grants would help fill the gap between the hours worked and the money earned. 

“We need grants to fill that in, and we need donations to fill that in,” Brookman said.

It appears they are already off to a strong start for 2025. The gallery is booked with artist installations throughout the year, and the team is looking forward to workshops and events scheduled for January and February, including a three-week quilting course, a writers open mic and a kids art show. Additionally, Looky Here will be working to produce a short film this year, and they are looking at continuing local partnerships with other businesses. 

“We don't want to grow. We just want to get better at what we’re doing,” Brookman explained. “We're not really looking to get too far out of control, but we are expanding our projects.”

“It’s working out where it’s like, as much energy as we’re putting into it, we’re getting back,” Brewster said. “People are just as excited to be here and host events and help make the community happen here.”

Thanks in large part to the community support, the team behind Looky Here is optimistic for what’s to come. 

“It feels a little bit like jumping into the pool and hoping there’s water in it,” Brewster said, “and every time there is.” 

To learn more about Looky Here, visit https://lookyheregreenfield.com/. 

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.