Bring Visual Arts to Title 1 School

Hi friends, family, colleagues, and fellow supporters of the arts.  Back in May, I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and Studio Art.  Unsure of what the future held for me, I started to look for post-graduate opportunities that I believed best utilized my love of visual arts and my background in working with communities on the periphery of art world.  This search ultimately led to me applying to and accepting a position as an ArtistYear Americorps Fellow.  ArtistYear is a program dedicated to enhancing school engagement, increasing civic behaviors, and developing student artistry for vulnerable youth populations by providing various Title 1 schools a full-time teaching artist in a variety of mediums.

 

In the past month, I have begun my service year at Joseph W. Catharine School in West Philadelphia and have loved every second of it.  Catharine Elementary is a true K-5 neighborhood school that sadly has not had a visual arts professional in over 15 years.  It is my hope that this year we can establish a strong foundation for the visual arts at Catharine that will lead to sustained and essential arts programing.

I am really impassioned by the enthusiasm my students have already shown toward visual arts, and the various artistic talents they already possess. 

 

 I created this GoFundMe page because after more than a decade hiatus it is difficult to build an arts program from the ground up, but I believe with the right funds it is possible.   Through the money raised on this page I hope to purchase the following things for my students.

 

-A large scale drying rack for student work

-60 Smocks so my students do not have to worry about dirtying their uniform

-Numerous Art and Social Justice themed books for an Art Library

-Classroom Image Enlarger

-Nicer quality art supplies that are not in the budget

- Various supplies for unique and advanced art projects as the year goes on

 

If there are funds left over after the more expensive items are procured, they will be used toward a large scale MURAL and BEAUTIFICATION project.  The fundraising for this project will be on going so any donation is going to make a difference.

 

I appreciate everyone taking the time to read this and I hope to share with you all the art my students create as the year progresses.  It’s a big year for Catharine Elementary and your donation can make it bigger.  Please SPREAD the word, and feel good about the difference you are making in the lives of my students.

 

Best Regards,

 

Emma