Artists Foundation Executive Director

Kathleen Bitetti

By ELLEN PRZEPASNIAK

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Kathleen Bitetti can't understand why someone would call her a "fairy godmother." But as the executive director of the nonprofit Artists Foundation, she's done more for local artists than most people know.

Through the Artists Foundation, a national organization based in Boston, she's pushed legislation to help artists get paid on time, followed health care reform to ensure they are protected and has supported the local arts scene with every modest bone in her body.

"There are a lot of artist advocates out there," she said. "I count myself among people who do the work."

But Bitetti feels advocacy isn't just for organizations like the Artists Foundation. Artists should know that policymakers are anxious and willing to advocate for them.

"Everyone's been really nice outside of 'Art Land.' Once more artists understand that, they won't feel so intimidated," she said. "How can we be at the table when they're making legislation? Clearly they're making room for us. Half the battle is showing up."

Bitetti helped organize Artists Under the Dome, an annual meeting of local artists and state government officials. The group's first public event in 2007 drew over 40 artists to the Statehouse.

She's currently gathering signatures for a "stand up and be counted" survey, signed by artists, as an advocacy tool when speaking to policymakers, who are asking for data so they can better understand the artists' plight. Artists can complete it on the Artists Foundation site, and Bitetti aims to make the data available by November.

When not directing the Artists Foundation, serving on the board of Massachusetts Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, holding the "artist in residence" title for the city of Quincy or working as director of the Lillian Immig Gallery at Emmanuel College, Bitetti finds time to work on her own art; she keeps a studio in her South Boston home, and tries to spend as much time there as possible.

Since the early '90s, her art has explored sociopolitical issues like domestic violence, gender roles and the American dream. In 2000, she extended these themes into ThePrincessProject.com, a long-term, conceptual art project. She recently completed a one-woman show in New York City called Containment, as part of ThePrincessProject.

As she celebrates her 40th birthday this month, she can be sure she won't be celebrating alone. So many artists around the country have benefited from her hard work and advocacy—and she's not stopping anytime soon.

[Artists Foundation, 516 East Second St., #49, Boston. 617.464.3559. artistsfoundation.org, theprincessproject.com]