Arts Patron

Mattice Hoyt has organically integrated cultural programming into her beauty supply store since its opening in 2020. Beyond partnering with eight local Black artisans to ensure their functional creative work can be purchased in her space, Mattice has consistently demonstrated extraordinary intention in cultivating an open and affirming space for artists in our community.

Committed to youth empowerment, disability rights, and strategic amplification of other arts entrepreneurs, Mattice is driven by the purpose found on her store bags: “Because you’re a work of art.”

Mattice regularly commissions artists to paint temporary murals on her shop windows, engages youth artists to paint mannequin heads for her permanent collection, exhibits paintings by local artists, and models creative life as a practicing poet herself. She manages a community conference room inside of her store which has been utilized on a sliding scale basis by dozens of teaching artists and hundreds of participants for purposes such as sewing classes, crochet & knitting classes, wine glass painting, soap-making classes, canvas painting, greeting card making, incense making, wreath making, photography shoots, culinary arts classes, braiding classes, poetry meetups and much more. Regular arts programming includes bi-monthly queer kids craft days as well. It is clear Mattice’s commitment to arts education, artist empowerment and community-centered arts programming makes her the ideal awardee for the Arts Patron award.