Our Partners in the Community
"Every Layer Tells a Story,
Every Hand Adds Hope."
In partnership with
St. Catherine's Center for Children
We have started a pilot program called Every Layer Tells a Story, Every Hand Adds Hope. Local artists, students, volunteers and friends have donated materials and their time to start collage boards. This collaborative project brings children and families together through accessible, hands-on artmaking that fosters self-expression, healing, and connection. By starting with layered images, words, colors and textures, participants get to tell their own stories without the intimidation of starting with a blank page. It gives them a chance to respond and rebuild, rather than inventing from nothing. These pre-started collages are part of Art Kits that children who are living through difficult situations in temporary housing here in Columbia County receive, along with additional art supplies and materials so they can deconstruct and reassemble the collages to tell their own unique stories. Our dream is to have exhibits of the before and after pictures of the collages around the area, to bring awareness to the project and the need to support at risk children through art in our community,
We would love to help you find a new home for your unused art supplies or any of your own unremarkable artwork that we can cut up and add to the collage boards for inspiration and added texture. It's an easy way to be a big part of the project. Please email us at
artschoolofcolumbiacounty@gmail.com
to set up a time for a drop off. Or sign up to volunteer to help create and pack the art kits. To visit St. Catherine's website, click
www.st-cath.org
Hudson Youth
Center
"The Hudson Youth Dept. provides year-round after school and summer programming to hundreds of kids annually, many of whom struggle with economic insecurity. Our partnership with the Art School of Columbia County Arts has made possible regular high-quality arts education at the department in many media - a high priority since it has been clearly demonstrated to increase academic achievement and help children focus and learn creatively both in and out of school. The program brings opportunities for teamwork and collaboration, teaches social/emotional skills, and builds community away from screens."
Peter Frank, Founder of Friends of Hudson Youth
We love to collaborate with other local organizations in the area to bring art to children and teens that might not get the opportunity to flex and strengthen their creative muscles and imaginations.