It feels like a lifetime ago, but it was just March 30 that ABC7 published a story about SkyART’s responsive work to provide art supplies and online content to our participants during the beginnings of Chicago’s shut down. We set what we believed to be a lofty goal of giving away 1,000 free Art Kits to SkyART participants and Chicago youth. Today we’re happy to announce that we’ve reached our goal! We could not have done this without the generous support of foundations, donors and individuals like you. On behalf of all the recipients, we thank you.

For many of us, life has slowed down a bit, but for SkyART we have doubled our efforts to reach youth who may not have access to creative activities at home. More important than reaching our goal now is that we keep going. We will continue to provide Art Kits, engaging youth with virtual and online activities, analog lesson plans and face masks to SkyART families, schools and partner organizations. Furthermore, we are providing Art Therapy to those children and families who are most in need.

As we look beyond our initial goal of 1,000 Art Kits, hoping to again see children in SkyART’s studios in the coming weeks with a curbside pick-ups, we will begin by replenishing supplies for participants in our SkyWAY and P3S Virtual Studios. We’re providing our P3S teens higher quality and more sophisticated materials, so they can continue their individual projects at home. We will also provide additional art kits with Art Therapy-specific supplies for those children receiving one-on-one sessions with SkyART.

If you are someone you know would like to sign up for the SkyART Virtual Studio, Art Kits and/or Art Therapy, please email your name and your children’s name/s to info@skyart.org.

 

In other news: SkyART’s Executive Director and founder Sarah Ward was interviewed live on Fox 32 Chicago on Friday, May 15! Stay tuned to Chicago’s ABC7 for a follow up story from our original post, and also keep an eye out for a print story featuring SkyART in the next issue of the South Side Weekly.

We’re also racking up thousands of views on our online webinars. Check out this fun family project by SkyART Teaching Artist Maria with more than 1,400 views!

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.