Youth Art Series: LOOK!
Every year our Youth Art program series, LOOK!, grows to meet the art needs of the community. It is no secret that 2020 was a challenging year for everyone, including the arts and youth. However, the demand for free, quality youth art programming has only increased.
What is LOOK! 2021?
This year's LOOK! will be a year-round workshop series with organizations and young creative professionals of the Capital Region. Through teamwork with artist guidance and using their personal creative voices, these youths will produce artwork of a myriad of mediums and varieties. Each youth will come up with their own concept and we will help make their vision come to life. Monetary contributions will be designated towards artist mentor stipends, sustenance and supplies for youth, and other materials.
How does LOOK! help local youth?
The pandemic is affecting us in so many ways and our youth are feeling the brunt of it. Luckily, art is an effective tool in helping them (and adults, too!) express themselves. Art inspires our youth to become engaged and this program teaches them how to hone those creative skills and use their voices. Your contribution flows directly back into the local creative community, as ACG supports the mentors and artists with generous stipends for teaching the youth. But this year is perhaps the toughest in memory for arts organizations and ACG is feeling the pinch. Our Youth Art Series, LOOK!, can only persist and expand if our friends step forward because they believe in the importance of creativity and want to make sure we have sufficient resources.
With your support, Albany Center Gallery can continue to provide the high caliber programming we are known for. We are working with local organizations to bring carefully curated art programming to underserved youth populations in Capital Region, NY. LOOK! beautifies and activates public spaces while creating sustainable lessons in teamwork, professionalism, literacy, and creativity.
You are the difference! We hope you will consider contributing, and see it as an investment toward the future of young creatives and the arts in the region.
LOOK! Youth Art Donors & Supporters
(as of 3/24/2021)
Anonymous, Dorice Brickman, Ellen B. Brickman, Lisa Brown, Charles Buchanan, Steven C. Carberry, James Carr, Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc (CDPHP), Krysia Cording, Dale Crisafulli, Maria DeAngelo, Kevin & Cindi Dubner, Fenimore Asset Management, Honorable James Gaughan & Keith Lee, Benjamin Gleeksman & Belinda Colon, Carlsbury Gonzalez, Robin & Larry Gordon, Kirby Haizlip, Jessica Hansen, William M. Harris & Holly Katz, Honest Weight Food Co-op, Camille & Kevin Jobin-Davis, Mary P. LaFleur, Lori Lawrence, Willie Marlowe, Lisa Miller, Annette Nanes, Mary Catherine O'Neill, John & Patty Paduano, Georgiana G. Panton, Rita Papandrea, David Phaff, Ellie Prakken & John Smolinsky, Price Chopper Golub Foundation, Susan Richardson, Rosemarie Rosen, Donald Stauffer, Stewart's Holiday Match, Theresa Swidorski, Stephen Tyson, Edytta Wojnar
Will you consider making a donation to keep our creative youth inspired and creating during and beyond the pandemic?
Every dollar counts! If you'd like to donate, you can do so here:
To donate by check, mail check to Albany Center Gallery at 488 Broadway, Suite 107, Albany, NY 12207, and write "LOOK! 2021" in the memo line.
On behalf of the young artists and local mentors you’d be assisting, thank you for considering this request.
Donation Levels:
Student Supporter - $50: pays for supplies for student(s).
Donor Recognition: Listed in LOOK! related virtual promotional materials as dates allow for inclusion (i.e. e-newsletters, social media, and website.
Sustenance Sustainer - $100: pays for food & supplies for student(s).
Donor Recognition: Above benefits, as well as listed in LOOK! related printed promotional materials.
Art Ambassador - $250: pays an artist stipend for a mentor to give a lesson.
Donor Recognition: Above benefits, as well as recognition in Annual Report and listing on gallery wall for an entire year.
Creative Connector - $500: pays for 2 artist mentors or 1 full-time mentor stipend.
Donor Recognition: Above benefits, as well as optional business logo and website hyperlinked on ACG’s Community Sponsors site.
Program Provider - $1,000: Pays for all the above, as well as helping to cover administrative and promotional costs.
Donor Recognition: Above benefits, as well as 2 General admission tickets to ACG’s Annual Fall Gala.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Karina at kwojnar@albanycentergallery.org.
Read more about our past youth art programs here:
LOOK! 2020:
Due to COVID 19, our usual Spring Youth Art Program for 2020 was postponed to the Summer of 2020. It transformed into an even larger endeavor, in partnership with the City of Albany, Summer Youth Employment Program, and Arbor Hill Development Corp., 8 at-risk youths ages 15-18 (mostly from the Tony Clement Center for Education) spent 4 weeks everyday learning about public art, practicing creative expression, and creating their own murals with the guidance of local artist mentors. Bonus: the youth got paid to learn and create!
See three of the paintings last year's young artists created below:
