Posted December 13th, 2021 — Filed under News
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The Art Effect Releases 2020 Annual Report and End of Year Campaign:
Building Stronger Communities
POUGHKEEPSIE (November 18, 2021) – The Art Effect’s 2020 Annual Report gives the community a snapshot into The Art Effect’s diverse programming as well as the impact on the community over the last year. The report showcases how The Art Effect plays a crucial role supporting young people in developing art as a catalyst for change. Despite a global pandemic, The Art Effect continued to reach more than 8,500 individuals tackling a new landscape of virtual events and learning opportunities through a challenging but rewarding year. This year’s end of year campaign raises funds that go directly toward real-life opportunities for students to create art and media projects that serve an authentic purpose in our community. “In times of great crisis the population has relied on art to increase morale. History has shown us that artists have led the wave of resilience that leads us to a stronger country. Art saves lives, now more than ever.” says Lamar Wint, Youth Producer at The Art Effect. The report defines “The Art Effect” through the eyes of young artists and demonstrates its significance through programmatic and financial outcomes, their pandemic response, and alumni successes. The organization was honored with the Dutchess County Executive Arts Award in Arts Education from Arts Mid-Hudson, but perhaps the most impressive accomplishments are the awards won by The Art Effect’s students. In 2020, over 75 Scholastic Art Awards and nearly $1 million in scholarships were awarded to young people at The Art Effect. Additionally, two of The Art Effect’s senior students received competitive grand prizes from the Congressional Art Competition.In 2020, over 8,500 individuals were directly served by the organization through programming and events that teaches artistic expression, personal growth, and empowering children to master their passions and prepare for personal and professional success. 100% of students in the Art Institute program graduated high school and were accepted into college with scholarship offers. Additionally, 325 high school students participated in Virtual Portfolio Week, 610 artworks were submitted and curated by youth for the organization’s inaugural international juried art show at the Trolley Barn Gallery, and The Art Effect employed 110 youth through workforce development programming. The Art Effect has never stopped helping students explore their passions and prepare them for their future.The Art Effect continues to build a stronger community by partnering with many impactful organizations here in the Hudson Valley to offer students paid training opportunities through workforce development programs including Spark Studios, Media, Arts, Design Lab (MADLab), Forge Media, and new programs in curation and gallery management as a result of The Art Effect’s affiliation with Barrett Arts Center.The Art Effect launches it’s end of the year campaign with a goal of raising $30,000 towards creating the partnerships and resources young people need to build real-world skills in their path toward academic and career success. Watch the video to hear directly from young people and community partners. (https://thearteffect.org/donate)See the full power of The Art Effect in their 2020 Annual Report, available HERE. About The Art Effect: The Art Effect empowers youth to develop their creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. The organization facilitates educational programming for youth in the Hudson Valley to explore, experience and excel in the arts. Programs provide introductions to visual arts and media, giving participants the opportunity to develop real skills in these fields and guiding them towards achieving their academic and career goals. The Art Effect is anchored by the belief that the arts have the power to create a more vibrant, caring and sustainable world led by a generation of youth who value creative thinking, diverse voices and stronger connections between all people.###
Posted November 22nd, 2021 — Filed under News
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Building Stronger Communities
This December, The Art Effect launches an annual campaign to raise $30,000! Every dollar will help prepare young people for academic and career success through workforce training, college visits, mentorship, and hands-on experience in visual/media arts. Building A Stronger Community — Watch the video below to learn more.
“As a representative of Celebrating the African Spirit, a new organization in the area, we knew we would need a logo for people to be able to recognize who we were. Youth in The Art Effect’s MADlab program developed an effective and gorgeous logo for us. Every time its seen in the community, they know that its Celebrating the African Spirit.” Carmen McGill
We are determined, now more than ever, to empower young people to develop their creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change through the arts.
Posted November 22nd, 2021 — Filed under News
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Register for Spring Programs
Visit our website to see the full schedule of courses for students of all ages and abilities in visual and media arts. And don’t forget, members receive a discount! Renew or become a member today.
This spring, study with professional instructors in a supportive environment where each student can develop their artistic skills and creative voice.
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Drawing & Painting Media Art & Video Portfolio Development Comics Illustration Photography & More!
Art Inspirations For ages 8-11 Create vibrant works in multiple media inspired by the world of the Dorsky Museum in New Paltz and beyond!
Portfolio in Digital Art For ages 14-19 Create art for your digital portfolio including digital illustrations, photo-manipulations, character art, & animation.
Exploring Puppetry For Ages 8-11 Design and create original puppet characters & bring them to life through mixed media art making and performance.
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NEA has approved in this category to support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and social outcomes; ultimately laying the groundwork for sustainable systems change. This is the largest grant The Art Effect has received from the NEA in recent history.
“As the country and the arts sector begin to work towards a post-pandemic world, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to announce this Our Town funding. These awards will support cross-sector partnerships such as the one lead by The Art Effect that demonstrate the power of the arts to help communities create a better future for themselves,” said NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers.
The Art Effect directly serves over 2,000 young people throughout the Hudson Valley each year through arts education, creative placemaking, and workforce development. In its 30 year history in Poughkeepsie, The Art Effect has integrated arts, culture, and design activities into community development, serving as a key partner in the revitalization of downtown Poughkeepsie. The NEA-supported Youth Arts Empowerment Zone is a logical expansion of The Art Effect’s arts-based, youth-led community development initiatives.
With support of the NEA Our Town grant, The Art Effect at the Trolley Barn will serve as an anchor arts institution in downtown Poughkeepsie. The Youth Arts Empowerment Zone will celebrate core tenets of creative entrepreneurship, youth leadership, and innovative public art in a series of two arts festivals in 2022 and 2023. This unique concept will expand beyond the installation of a mural or public art piece, with festivals that directly engage with the community to benefit youth and the local arts community as well as the cultural and social environments of Middle Main Poughkeepsie.
‘The Art Effect looks forward to collaborating with community and national partners such as the City of Poughkeepsie, Hudson River Housing, MASS Design, and others to execute an inclusive community engagement strategy that will work with local youth to plan, design, and implement art festivals that we know will bring excitement, inspiration, and community cohesion to the area,” says Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director at The Art Effect. “This two-year project will initiate an annual series of festivals at the Trolley Barn and serve as the first step in establishing the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone, revitalizing downtown Poughkeepsie through creativity.”
For more information on the projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
