Art Programs For 5,000 In-Need New York Children

Dear Friend,

On behalf of everyone here at Arts For All, we hope you are doing well going into the holiday season! We are incredibly grateful this year to be reflecting on a year of growth in 2023, providing more programs and serving more students than ever before. 

It is because of your continued support that our organization has been able to survive through the ups and downs of the past 3 years, and is looking brightly at the future ahead. It is because of individuals like yourself, our dedicated staff, teaching artists, donors, and partnering organizations, that we have continued to grow and further spread our mission to children all throughout New York City. 

In keeping you informed on all of Arts For All's activities throughout 2023, we hope you will enjoy reading about this past year's programmatic accomplishments and projects we’ve been working extremely hard on delivering.

1) With the success of our online virtual series,Mondays with Mé, and expanding on our core programs (Artistic Residency Program, Literacy Through the Arts,and theAudience Project) both in-person and virtually, we are continuing to serve approximately 5,000 children per year. Additionally, we have been recognized as a top-rated organization through Great Nonprofits for the 12th time!

2) We’ve also, for the first time ever, received new funding from the National Endowment for the Arts!This has created a large impact on our programming, and we are so grateful to have federal support for the first time. In addition we have received first time funding from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation.It was so exciting to have several members from the Genesis team join us at one of our schools for an incredibly special check presentation. The team not only got to observe our work in action, but also had a great time working hands on with the students in the classroom.

3) With our continued growth, we are happy to report that by the end of 2023 we will have been able to offer over 550 Literacy Through The Arts (LTA) workshops and serve approximately1,430 students between our virtual content andour LTA school partners, including PS15, PS76, Renaissance Charter School 1 & 2, PS163, PS4 and PS197!Through our Artistic Residency Program (ARP) both in-person and virtually, by the end of 2023 we will have been able to serve over 3,660 students and offer in total over 425workshops between all of our ARP school partners including PS69, PS163, PS194, PS19, PS310, Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights, Williamsburg High School of Arts and Tech, PS243, and the Corlears School.

4) Arts For All’s Virtual Classroom has continued to be a strong presence and opportunity for online learners.We’ve been able to create a total of 185 videos between 20 different series.   We are in the process of creating a new 10-part learning series on Social and Emotional learning based on Arts For All’s core values, which incorporates bilingual practices, featuring Teaching Artist Leah Young.  We have also continued to build out our Fun Craft Fridays and are thrilled to have a full calendar year of projects for students to do virtually every week.

5) This year, we also were able to bring back our Audience Project and Artistic Exposure Programin person with a trip to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum,giving students not only the opportunity to visit the museum, but also to experience a special performance ofBLAST OFF! (to space)The Showcreated and performed by artist, Mélissa Smith. This field trip came after completing the Blast Off! Astronaut Training Residency where students in 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade at Renaissance Charter School experienced an astronomically exciting four-part workshop series and earned certificates to become Certified Superstars for their first mission to space!

In being able to accomplish so much throughout 2023, we would like to thank YOU, for always being there to support our organization and for believing in our mission to provide accessible artistic opportunities to children. We have been so fortunate to have been able to continue to not only offer our programs to our partners, but also to grow both in-person and virtually. 

We hope that you will continue to support our organization this holiday season and consider a contribution, so that we can continue to provide sustainable, quality arts programs to under-served children in New York City for years to come. 

Wishing you and your loved ones the best health and spirits.

Sincerely,                                                                                                                                                                                    

Felix Miguel Reyes                                                                                                                                                              

Development Associate