In March 2016, I organized, hosted and curated a group exhibition for my photography group, NYC Digital Photography Workshops at the Caelum Gallery near the The High Line in the Meatpacking District and I decided to create an optional “entry fee ticket” to collect money to support a local nonprofit organization.
Chromatic Visions exhibition on March 12, 2016
Image courtesy of Caelum Gallery
The Arts tend to be a bit of a neglected area in the way of support. It took me only a moment to figure out who I wanted to be the beneficiary of 100% of the optional entry fee ticket proceeds. I invited an organization called Art Start to not only receive the proceeds from any optional ticket sales, but to also use two (2) six-foot walls in the gallery for the organization to hang two of their largest pieces on exhibit.
Creating confidence in underprivileged youth.
Image courtesy of Art Start
I recently had the pleasure of formally sitting down with Art Start’s Co-Executive Director, Hannah Immerman, to ask her a few questions on the organization, to shred some light on what it does, its programs and its exhibits.
What is Art Start?
Art Start provides a creative outlet for homeless and court-involved youth.
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: What is Art Start?
HI: Art Start is a New York City based nonprofit that engages homeless and court-involved youth in the creative process.
DMW: How did the idea of Art Start come about?
HI: Over the past 25 years we have engaged over 23,000 NYC youth. We currently provide programming in 4 out of the 5 boroughs, in 10 different locations. The purpose of it all is to use the creative process to achieve personal development. Our workshops are student centered and consistent. Through the creative projects we focus on the process and not the finished result.
Art Start has become a nationally recognized organization that uses creative art programs to nurture at-risk children that currently live in shelters, on the streets, are involved in court cases and are living with parents in crisis. Well-known figures and celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Oprah Winfrey, Alexander Wang and Former President Bill Clinton have given high praise to Art Start’s program for kids.
The Art Start Community
Art Start works with underserved youth that currently live in shelters, on the streets,
are involved in court cases and are living with parents in crisis.
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: How many people do you typically help in a year?
HI: Last year we served over 700 youths.
DMW: What is the age range for these youths that you typically work with?
HI: We serve youth and young adults, ages 5-21.
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: What other organizations do you work with?
HI: We work with YOSOS, Urban Art Beat and a network of nonprofits that run the shelters.
Art Start partners with nonprofits such as the Covenant House, Inwood House, Volunteers of America, Bronxworks, SoBro and Sheltering Arms Safe Horizons.
The Services Art-Start Provides
Art Start’s Music Programs
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: What types of programs do you offer?
HI: Art Start offers creative arts workshops that take place on-site in partnering homeless shelters as well as secure and non-secure detention centers. We also offer mentoring, portfolio development, coursework sponsorship and professional development opportunities in our Emerging Artists Program.
DMW: What types of workshops do you offer?
HI: We offer workshops in visual arts, music, dance, theater, Food Justice/cooking, gardening and music production.
Teaching the youth: photography.
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: How long are the workshops?
HI: They are typically 60-90 minutes.
DMW: How do you go about working with the Homeless Youth Outreach?
HI: We partner with family shelters and shelters for young mothers. We bring in staff and volunteers who facilitate different types of creative projects each week.
DMW: How do you go about working with the Youth Offender Outreach?
HI: We partner with secure detention facilities, non secure detention facilities as well as alternative sentencing programs and provide weekly creative workshops.
The Family Portrait Project
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: Do you go to these facilities to provide your services?
HI: Yes, we provide almost all of our workshops on-site to make it as accessible as possible to the youth.
DMW: Tell me more about the Emerging Artists Program.
HI: We work with about 10 youth per year. The youth sometimes are recruited from our other programs or they are referred by partnering organizations. The program is for about 6 months. We sponsor coursework for youth (art classes, voice lessons, music production courses, photography and more…) We partner youth with a mentor, meet weekly, visit creative industries, go on cultural outings and work on professional development skills.
DMW: That sounds amazing. Have you ever considered developing a program for homeless or offender adults? Possibly an emerging artist program for adults?
HI: Our focus is on youth but we do engage parents in the shelters with monthly family nights.
Art Start provides an outlet for creative youths who are struggling and lack resources to provide them with opportunities for their inner artistic being and help them to see and feel a bright and creative future through participation in the arts and music.
Its Projects and Exhibitions
The Seaport Culture District Project
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: What are some of the projects Art Start has done with these youth programs?
HI: In 2012 we started an annual photography project that engages the youth and families from our various programs. The Family Portrait Project presents the images, voices and stories of NYC families experiencing homelessness. The The Portrait Project offers homeless and court-involved teenagers the opportunity to create empowering dreams of their future and show the world how they want to be seen. With support from world-class photographers, retouchers and stylists, those visions come to life in a large-format photographic print.
DMW: What is this year’s project?
HI: This year, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary and with an event in May. It will also be the opening exhibition of the 2017 Portrait Project. The project features 10 of our youth from the Emerging Artists Program and Homeless Youth outreach Program. Participating photographers include: Chris Randall, Matt Hoyle, Natalie Brasington, Zach Stertz, Andrew Eccles, Heidi Gutman, Mary Ellen Matthews and David Johnson. For the fourth year, Fast Ashleys Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn returns to The Portrait Project as a presenting sponsor of photo equipment and studio space for the shoot locations. DCOY Studios also returns as a sponsor, donating all digital retouching for the project. This year, Canon joins the project as the exclusive printing sponsor, making the public exhibition and book possible for this project.
“Fleur” Print by Natalie Brasington
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: Where have you exhibited in the past?
HI: It is helpful when spaces are donated of course but we had been lucky to exhibit in our building on 26th street which is a great place to be. Full of artists and galleries. We have also exhibited the projects at the High Line Loft in the West Chelsea Arts Building.
DMW: Where can people see the works completed through these programs on exhibit?
HI: Many of the images are can be found on our website and we are working on a complete online gallery. A few of the prints and one of the books can be purchased on our website. Our goal is to have the photo projects travel the city and country. We have been fortunate to have some of the images exhibited in group shows around NYC.
In 2015, Art Start proudly participated in the Seaport Culture District, which was presented by the Howard Hughes Corporation, with support from the engineering firm, Arup, whereas Art Start present The Portrait Project as outdoor light-and-sound installation in Cannon’s Walk at the South Street Seaport.
Funding and How You Can Get Involved
Funding through these great sponsors is not enough. Let’s keep a good thing going.
Image courtesy of Art Start
DMW: How are you funded to be able to provide all of these wonderful programs?
HI: We received government funding from the city and state, corporate donations, fees for service, individual donations, foundations and community giving.
DMW: How can people contribute to this worthy cause?
HI: Donate! Becoming a monthly donor is especially helpful because it is reliable, consistent support. We also have a great peer to peer fundraising platform that allows people to Crowdfund for their birthday party, events, etc.
You can help support Art Start by your generous monetary donation of any amount and/or your donation of time by volunteering! Photographers and Artists, this is a great organization to get involved with as they are doing great things for the youth in our community. Art Start workshops are approximately 1.5 hours long and are located in Bushwick Brooklyn, South Bronx, and Harlem. Workshops for kids age 5-21 include visual arts, music, dance, theatre, photography, gardening, and music recording.
Image courtesy of Art Start
You can also hold fundraisers to help raise money for the organization. Work in a large company? Scheduled for a marathon? Art Start will help you create a fundraising page to help support their organization.
You’ve Got This!
Folks, Art Start has a great idea that should be spread like wildfire around the country. They are helping to shape our youth for the better. Imagine growing the organization to other cities around the country? Give them a helping hand with a donation, by volunteering and/or by fundraising. You’ve got this!
