Bridget Driver had just quit her job at the Confederation Court Mall. She knew exactly what to do next.

            

            She had often walked past a glass door on Great George Street on her way to work. She could see paintings on the other side.

            

            “There’s got to be an artist up there,” she thought.

            

            Driver went inside and found herself in a studio.

            

            She saw Damon Roberts sitting, looking down on his phone. She sat next to him.

            

            Five minutes later, he looked up at her. 

            

            “Can I help you?” he said.

            

            “I’m going to work here,” she replied.

            

            Driver told him she went to art school, liked the studio’s vibe and wanted to apply for a job.

            

            “I can’t believe it,” Roberts said.

            

            He had been on the phone with his boss, telling him he needed help with his contracts.

            

            Within 10 minutes, Driver went from quitting her job to working in a group of artists like her.

            

            “I was already part of it before I even knew,” she said.

            

            Now, Roberts has taken Driver’s art career in a new direction.

            

            Roberts, 34, is representing a group of artists in Charlottetown known as ‘The Collective,’ promoting better pay for their contributions to events in the city.

            

            The artist came up with the idea while giving classes at East Coast Art Party (ECAP) in 2022.

            

            He had disagreements with the owner over how the business should be managed.

            

            He said he and other ECAP artists realized the owner was making more money than everyone else, despite the amount of work they did.

            

            “It kind of threw a wrench into the whole thing and rubbed us the wrong way.”

            

            After leaving ECAP this year, Roberts started The Collective with five other artists who helped him during his time with the company.

            

            His group’s goal is to ensure artists are paid fairly for their work without a middleman between them and their contractors.

            

            He said he is very open about the process and insists on not making more money over other artists despite his status as the group’s spokesperson.

            

            “I’m making the same as everybody else, and everybody’s going to work together to make it work. And in the end, we all make more money.”

            

            The Collective’s projects are determined in a group chat on social media.

            

            They include mural paintings, chalk art, face-painting and art lessons through mediums like paint, string and stencils.

            

            All ideas are shared and considered equally before a decision is made.

            

            “Everyone has a say in it. There are no set rules,” Roberts said.

            

            The financial terms of their projects also vary depending on their scale.

            

            In October’s Street Feast event, they billed the city $35 an hour per artist, including supplies.

            

            After an event, Roberts sends e-transfers to artists who worked and waits to receive a cheque from the city.

            

            The spokesperson said invoices are kept on everything they work on and can be shown to artists anytime.

            

            “I think there’s a lot of trust between us all to know that.”

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            Driver is one of the artists who has benefitted from the group’s approach.

            

            She said it feels amazing to work in a team where transparency and equality are prioritized in creating art for the city.

            

            “You know that when you get there, you’re building something that is successful. You’re surrounded by people who love what they do.”

            

            The group’s culture has also made Driver more confident as an artist.

            

            The Montreal native began reading more books since joining The Collective, inspired to learn new art styles and techniques.

            

            She is supported by her fellow artists and isn’t pressured to accept jobs.

            

            “I feel like I can just be myself.”

            

            Driver added it feels like the group is on the verge of a breakthrough, not just in influencing other artists, but also in encouraging all Islanders to engage in art.

            

            “I think we could get the whole province owning at least a paintbrush, and holding it, all at the same time.”

            

            Roberts has been just as influenced.

            

            Contacts he made at ECAP continue to reach out for his services.

            

            He also knows he can rely on the group’s artists for help or to take over a project if he is busy.

            

            He said his passion for art has increased.

            

            “We all know that we’re all working together on something, instead of working on something for somebody else.”

            

            Roberts plans to grow The Collective while continuing to help as many artists as possible to avoid being taken advantage of.

            

            He said it will take time, but everyone is committed to building the group and staying focused on its mission.

            

            “It’s for artists, by artists.”