Image: Click on the image above to check out Teaching Artist B’Rael’s webinar about portraiture! 

 

SkyART is like a Second Home

Like you, we are deeply concerned about the educational crisis resulting from the global pandemic. Millions of children in the United States are at risk of falling behind on educational milestones. Unfortunately, those same vulnerable children’s social-emotional wellbeing and security will also be affected by the ongoing isolation, away from teachers, friends and places like SkyART. Kids from low income families are less likely to have their own bedroom, computer, toys, books and even their own art supplies. This inequity means that some kids will make the transition to online learning much more easily than their less privileged peers. Those children from low income households will not only fall further behind in school but they will fall behind in their emotional development. 

For our participants, SkyART is like a second home. They cook, they eat and they grow with us. They receive the embrace of a creative and compassionate community from their peers, and our teaching artists they aspire to grow up to become. At SkyART participants have unlimited access to the art supplies, computers and the high expectations of mentors — the playing field is leveled just a few degrees. We know that our participants will be traumatized by this crisis and we will need to be there for them in a different but similar way. In a recent survey sent to SkyART parents, 40 percent requested free Art Therapy sessions for their kids because they are concerned about their wellbeing. 

Free Art Therapy sessions for Registered SkyART Participants

That’s why we’re so proud to be able to offer free Art Therapy sessions to registered SkyART participants. We’re also excited to share that we’ve given away almost 400 Art Kits (click here to donate supplies) to families and students at our school partners. In the coming weeks SkyART will coordinate delivery of more than 300 Art Kits to shelters for families experiencing homelessness and will also provide Art Therapy for a limited number of children facing the difficult task of Sheltering in Place without a home.  

We need your help to provide the healing power of art to as many children in Chicago as possible! Please consider donating to our programs! 

SkyWAY and Project 3rd Space Virtual Programs

Image: Screen Capture from Project 3rd Space/SkyWAY Virtual Program.

We have started hosting our regularly scheduled SkyWAY and Project 3rd Space sessions virtually! They are being held on the same day at the same time, to provide a sense of normalcy and consistency to our participants. 

Support our Programs

We need general operating donations at this unprecedented time. Please consider making a monetary donation to SkyART which is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law, so we can continue to be present for kids and our community.