The first City Project deck was created in Charlotte, NC in October 2008. After moving there from Toronto, Canada, the founder, Dione Goyette, was happy to discover a multitude of artists in what she had believed was primarily a banking centre.

Searching for a project that would weave local artists together, she came up with the idea while sourcing game components for her previous job as a game developer. She wanted a multi-functional product that would help local artists reach a broader audience; that would generate funds for local arts non-profits and retailers; and that was environmentally conscious.

After she shared the concept with a friend, she was dared to put out a ‘call to artist’ immediately. She drafted the 'call' on the back of an envelope, sent it out as soon as she got home, and within hours, 20 responses came flooding in. There sprouted the first deck…and now the project is growing to an ever-widening pool of cities.

Plans are underway to expand the project to multiple cities over the next few years. Fortunately, finding artists is the easy part. Unfortunately, picking the next city from so many eligible cities is the toughest part.

If you have a city you think would benefit from the project, let us know and we’ll add it to the list. Be sure to share your comments about any city project on our Facebook site.

For all general inquiries, please feel free to contact:

Dione Goyette :: Email
tel 704-918-8186 / 704-895-4515
P.O. Box 2211
Davidson, NC 28036-2211

Portland Specific Information
Dave Riveness :: Email
tel 818-800-5294

Art in Hand™ is continually being interviewed for magazine, newspaper and on-line articles. Here are the ones that have made it to press so far:

Lake Norman Currents, Front Cover Story “A Full House: Local artists design a deck of cards like no other”, May 2009

Lake Wylie Pilot, “Local artist deals ‘card’to promote art”, April 7, 2009

The Charlotte Observer, “Local art is in the cards with unusual fundraiser.”, Sunday, May 10th, 2009

DavidsonNews.net, “Playing with a full deck”, May 14th, 2009