FREE ARTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN OF NEW YORK CITY, INC.
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Mission Statement
FREE ARTS NYC empowers youth from underserved communities through art and mentoring programs to develop their creativity, confidence, and skills to succeed.
About This Cause
Free Arts serves 2,000 youth annually through Free Arts Days and the Teen Arts Program. During FADs, children, ages 5-12, engage in art-making and exploration, while TAP offers personalized, long-term mentoring; arts education; and career training to students ages 13-23, who are interested in pursuing the arts academically and/or professionally. All of Free Arts’ programming is free of charge and takes place at the Free Arts office, a community partner location, or at a creative company. FAD and TAP were designed to create access and opportunity to the creative arts. The reality is that while New York City is the cultural capital of the world, many young people living in disadvantaged neighborhoods and/or attending low-performing schools have little to no exposure to the arts. We provide multiple opportunities while encouraging youth to express their own creativity. And as they explore their creative side, we also introduce them to career paths and opportunities and help further hone their skills so they can set and pursue their goals. To recruit students, Free Arts works closely with 22 New York City community-based and Department of Homeless-affiliated organizations and six New York City middle schools and eight New York City high schools located in under-resourced communities. More than 90% of the children and youth we serve are classified as low-income. Children and youth engaged with Free Arts programming reflect the diversity of New York City. Free Arts’ student demographics consist of: 48% LatinX, 16% two or more races, 14% Black/African-American, 12% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5% Caucasian, and 1% Other. Through Free Arts Days (FAD), children, ages 5-12 are introduced to a diverse slate of artists, art movements, styles and materials in a large group setting. Each child is paired with an individual mentor for an afternoon of art making and “mini mentoring” which is intended to ignite their creative “SPARK.” Using arts as the foundation, FAD programs are designed to help children build transferable skills in a fun and supportive environment. Each FAD is centered around a particular theme (e.g. Identity, Financial Literacy, Collaboration)) which is presented via interactive activities outlined in a creativity packet that includes vocabulary words, new art techniques and methods, and an explanation of the theme and the projects. The curricula highlight a diverse slate of artists, many of whom are involved with Free Arts in other ways (e.g. studio visits). The packet is created using the Common Core Standards and the NYS Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Visual Arts. The Teen Arts Program (TAP) caters to youth aged 13-23 who aspire to pursue the arts academically or professionally. In addition to the four interrelated tracks described below, every student is matched with a mentor, who plays an integral role in the program and the student’s overall success. The tracks are: Portfolio Development: 35+ 7th and 11th graders are paired with individual mentors who work together for 120+ hours annually to build a professional visual arts portfolio; research art high schools or colleges; and work together on their submission, interview and audition. As a group, the students and mentors visit artists’ studios and cultural institutions and attend skill-building workshops. Creative Lab: In Creative Lab, 35+ 9th-12th grade students spend 47+ hours being introduced to NYC’s vibrant, creative sector. Students visit artist studios, build relationships and receive guidance from their mentors in 1:1 sessions, develop their visual literacy and communication skills, and attend skill-building workshops. They also participate in company visits during school breaks which expose them to an array of professions. Recent visits included: Tiffany & Co., Titmouse, Argodesign, Marmol Radziner, New York Studio School, White Columns Gallery, PepsiCo., Sony, Blueprint NYC and Gensler. Internships and Summer Learning Pods: Free Arts offers 70 -80 placements to high school and college-aged students year-round, earning $15-$16/hour, for 90-200 hours. Participating companies include: White Columns Gallery, LGDR Gallery, Mitchell Innes & Nash Gallery, Sotheby’s, DXA Studio, Maharam Studios, Bustle, Tariku Shiferaw Studios, and Free Arts, among others. College Support: College students are paired with a mentor whom they meet with at least once per month and maintain communication with on a consistent basis. All students who meet the requirements are eligible for internships and scholarships.