Relive the past 5 years of Starting Artists, Inc. history through the SA Book. Order directly from Blurb.com’s Website and have the book printed as you like and sent directly to your home. Enjoy!

As some of you have heard, Starting Artists is saddened to announce that we will not be providing programs during the spring of 2011.

The organization will not dissolve and we will continue to answer emails and act as a resource for students.  But in January, we will be going a hiatus due to three main factors:

- Our lease here at 211 Smith Street is up and we have not yet found a donated space to become our new home.

- Several of our funding sources have unfortunately cut funding because of the economy and we have not been able to make up the lost revenue.

- Our Executive Director, Marisa, has decided to transition out of the organization because she and her husband will be joining the Peace Corps next summer and serving as volunteers for over 2 years in Central or South America.  Congratulations to Marisa & Paul – we look forward to hearing all about your adventures and good work abroad!

To read Marisa’s detailed message to the SA community, please click here.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email Lacey or Marisa for more information.  Visit our Art Programs Resource Guide Page to learn about other local art programs and contests.

SA Farewell Finale: Student Gallery Show & Party, December 16

As you know, the end of December will bring a close to Starting Artists’s doors.  Please join us for a celebration of Starting Artists that will truly be the culmination of 5 years of programs and hundreds of starting artists’ hard work & creative energy! We want to go out with a bang – so bring your good cheer & happy SA memories, connect with friends both old & new, and view artworks created by current SA students this fall.  Our students in the Afterschool Program have been working hard all semester, learning new programs and techniques to create works of art and to stretch themselves as artists.

All past & present students, parents, and community members are invited to the SA Farewell Finale & Gallery Show on Thursday, December 16th from 6pm – 8pm.

What: SA Farewell Finale & Gallery Show
When: Thursday, December 16
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Where: Starting Artists, 211 Smith Street

211 Smith Street: Packing & Tag Sale

It’s always hard to say good-bye, but it’s even more difficult to pack!  As you all know, cleaning and packing all of our supplies here at 211 Smith Street will be a challenge.  Please roll up your sleeves & volunteer your time as we pack up the studio and move everything out – your efforts will be much appreciated!

Another way to help is to shop our Tag Sale!  As we pack and move, we will be selling much of SA’s equipment that is too difficult to move or store.  Here’s your chance to take a piece of SA home with you or to snag some art supplies, furniture, or office supplies at a great price!  Email Lacey if you are interested in a particular item, or browse during our packing hours.

Sign up as a volunteer and/or shop our Tag Sale on:
* Friday, December 17th from 2pm – 7pm
* Saturday, December 18th from 12pm – 5pm
* Sunday, December 19th from 12 – 5pm

Stay tuned – we may add additional packing hours if needed.  Thank you!

ART PROGRAMS RESOURCE GUIDE

o   Abrons Art Center

Abrons Art Center Website

466 Grand Street, NYC

Part of the Henry Street Settlement, Abrons Art Center bring artistic excellence to the Lower East Side through exhibitions, performances, classes and workshops for all ages, and arts education programs with public schools.

o   Art House Co-op

Art House Website

103A N. 3^rd Street, BKLYN

This initiative features national art projects, exhibitions, and contests as well as the Art House Library in Red Hook that is open to visitors.  No classes.

o   Big Fish Tutoring and Drawing

Big Fish Tutoring Website

Degraw Street near Court Street, BKLYN

Big Fish offers homework help, test prep, portfolio preparation, and drawing classes for all ages.

o   Brooklyn Artists Gym

Brooklyn Artists Gym

168 7^th Street, 3^rd floor, BKLYN

Brooklyn Artists Gym is a studio and gallery in Park Slope offering internships and classes.

o   Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX)

BAX website

421 5^th Avenue, BKLYN

Offers youth classes 6 days per week in dance, theatre, music, and more.

o   Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum Teen Programs Website

200 Eastern Parkway, BKLYN

Brooklyn Museum’s teen programs include classes, internships, teacher assisting, and the Museum Apprentice Program for high school students.

o   Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education

Casita Maria Website

4928 Simpson Street, Bronx

Casita Maria offers a variety of programs, including paid employment for teens through ArtWorks Summer Internships, high school portfolio development, high school and college preparation, and more.

o   Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP)

Center for Urban Pedagogy Website

232 3^rd Street #D201, BKLYN

CUP creates educational projects about architecture and design, bringing together art and design professionals with community organizers and youth.

o   Cooper Union Saturday Program

Cooper Union Saturday Program Website

Intensive Saturday art classes available to grades 9-12 through an application process.

o   Cooper-Hewitt Design Directions and Lehman Fellowship

Cooper Hewitt Teen Programs Website

2 E91st Street, NY

Free after-school workshops on design careers and school/site visits. Also offers a competitive internship program in design.

o   Creative Arts Studio

Creative Arts Studio Website

119 Union Street and 310 Atlantic Ave, BKLYN

Featuring classes in dance, drama, music, and art, Creative Arts Studio has two locations and year-long programming.

o   Dept of Education – In-School Youth and Summer Youth Employment Programs

NYC In-School and Summer Youth Employment Website

The NY Dept. of Education offers a variety of ways for students to gain employment during the school year and the summer.  The In-School Youth program offers job training and development during after-school hours; the Summer Youth Employment Program is a 7-week opportunity for teens to get paid while working.

o   Dodge YMCA

Dodge YMCA Website

225 Atlantic Ave, BKLYN

The YMCA offers teen programs in community service as well as a weekly teen night where teens can exercise and socialize in a fun, safe atmosphere.

o   The Door

The Door Website

555 Broome Street, NYC

The Door empowers young people and provides comprehensive youth development through a wide range of social services, including creative arts classes and internship placement.

o   DreamYard Project

DreamYard Website

1085 Washington Avenue, Bronx

DreamYard is the largest arts education provider in the Bronx, matching professional artists with classroom teachers and community educators.  Out-of-School programs give teens after-school, Saturdays, and summer opportunities.

o   DUMBO Art Center High School Intensive Program (HIP)

www.dumboartscenter.org/HSInternship.html

30 Washington Street, BKLYN

In this summer program, high school interns work with teaching artists to create their own project that will be displayed in DUMBO as well as go on trips around NYC.

o   Educational Alliance

Educational Alliance Website

197 East Broadway, NYC

Programs in locations all over NYC in athletics, visual and performing arts, and college preparation as well as social services.

o   Educational Video Center

Educational Video Center Website

120 W30th Street, 7^th floor, NYC

EVC is a nonprofit youth media organization dedicated to teaching documentary filmmaking to youth.  The offer a documentary workshop, paid internships, community engagement, and more.

o   Eyebeam

Eyebeam Website

540 W21st Street, NYC

An art and technology center which offers tools for digital research and experimentation, Eyebeam offers three on-going youth programs as well as a drop-in program.

o   Free Arts NYC

Free Arts NYC Website

1431 Broadway, 7^th floor, NYC

Geared mainly towards ages 13 and younger, Free Arts NYC provides Weekly Mentor Program, Free Arts Days, Summer Arts Camp, and more to under-served children and families.

o   Girls Write Now

Girls Write Now Website

247 W37th Street, Suite 1800, NYC

Provides guidance and opportunities for NYC girls to develop their writing skills and to explore professional careers in writing and editing.  Participants are matched with a mentor and attend weekly meetings.  Workshops and readings are held at a variety of locations across NYC.

o   Global Action Project

Global Action Website

4 W37th Street, NYC

Founded in 1991, Global Action works with the youth most affected by injustice to build the tools and knowledge necessary to create media for community power and social change.  Teen participants learn filmmaking and create powerful videos.

o   Groundswell Community Mural Project

Groundswell Website

339 Douglass Street, BKLYN

Focus on mural-painting. After-school and summer component—for the summer, must do it through Summer Youth Employment Program.

o   The LAMP (Learning About Multimedia Project)

The Lamp Website

The LAMP offers workshops and curricula tailored to youth or educators that aim to promote media literacy and to created educated consumers.

o   MoMA In the Making

MoMa In the Making Website

11 W53rd Street, NYC

After-school & summer programs at MoMA.

o   Metropolitan Museum of Art

Met Teen Website

1000 5^th Avenue, NYC

Various teen classes at the Met.

o   New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA)

New York State Summer School of the Arts Website

Intensive summer arts program on a college campus.

o   Open Source Gallery

Open Source Gallery Website

255 17^th Street, BKLYN

Open Source Gallery is a participant-driven art initiative that displays community artwork and offers events throughout the year and a summer camp.  Internship opportunities may also be available.

o   Opening Act

Opening Act Website

PO Box 20178, NYC

Opening Act provides free after-school theatre programs to in-need NYC public schools, currently serving 9 schools.

o   The Point

The Point Website

940 Garrison Ave, Bronx

The Point is a nonprofit dedicated to youth development and the revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx.  They offer after-school programs in art, leadership, and advocacy.

o   Pre-College Program at Pratt

Pratt Pre-College Program Website

144 West 14^th St, NYC; summers also at the Brooklyn campus

Pratt offers a Pre-College program on Saturdays during the fall and spring at the Manhattan campus and a Pre-College Summer Program at both the Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses.  Classes in art, design, architecture, and creative writing.

o   Red Hook Productions

Red Hook Productions Website

133 Imlay Street, BKLYN

Provides space for photo/video/event production.

o   Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Website

557 Broadway, NYC

Competitive art awards programs offering local and national recognition in different art forms; winners receive prizes and get their work shown in special exhibits.

o   Smack Mellon Gallery

Smack Mellon Website

92 Plymouth St, BKLYN

A gallery located in DUMBO, Smack Mellon offers the Art Ready youth program during the school year and an annual Summer Arts Intensive.

o   Spoke the Hub

Spoke the Hub Website

748 Union Street, BKLYN

A creative center for dance, performance, and art classes.  Also offers a work-study program for teens and scholarships for ages 8-16.

o   Sweat Equity Enterprises (SEE)

Sweat Equity Enterprises Website

SEE designs innovative collaborations between youth and industry and gives youth the opportunity to design on a professional level.

o   Theatre Development Fund – the Youth Theatre Initiative

Theatre Development Fund Website

The Youth Theatre Initiative is an after-school program for students who have a strong interest in theatre, writing, and performing.  Operates through public schools.

o   Urban Word NYC

Urban Word NYC Website

242 W27th Street, Suite 3A, NYC and 1251 Prospect Place, BKLYN

Urban Word NYC utilizes the written and spoken word to develop critical thinking skills and leadership in youth.  With sites in Manhattan and in Crown Heights, Urban Word offers free after-school workshops and the Summer Institute for Social Justice and Poetics.

o   viBe Theatre Experience

viBe Theatre Experience Website

PO Box 1478, NYC

A nonprofit performing arts and education organization for girls which creates and produces original performances. Open to girls ages 13-19, participants create pieces of theatre, individual shows, write songs, and more.  Also offers an apprentice program and leadership program.

o   Voices of New York

Voices of New York Website

VONY offers workshops, conferences, and a 6-month program for ages 14-18 in the media arts.  Brooklyn-based.

o   Whitney Museum Youth Insights

Whitney Teen Programs Website

945 Madison Avenue, NYC

Various teen classes.

o   Writopia Lab

Writopia Lab Website

155 West 81^st Street, NYC

Writopia Lab runs creative writing workshops for NYC youth ages 8-18.  All workshops have a maximum of 6 students and are led by a published writer who has been trained to teach.  Workshops are held across the city in a variety of locations.

o   Young Arts

Young Arts Website

Young Arts is a national program identifies emerging artists and gives awards, scholarships, and more.  All disciplines.

o   Young Audiences

Young Audiences New York Website

115 East 92^nd Street, NYC

Young Audiences is a national organization whose mission is to make the arts an essential part of young people’s education.  NY’s Young Audiences chapter offers YouthLabs, after-school programs for teens, in animation and music.

Newsletter Archive

December 2010

A Message from Marisa

November 2010

Mid-October Update

October 2010

September 2010

August 2010

July 2010

June 2010

May 2010

April 2010

March 2010

February 2010

January 2010

December 2009

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(We promise we will not sell or share your information!)

After three wonderful years, we are sad to announce that we will not be renewing the lease on our 211 Smith Street storefront.  We have loved being part of the Cobble Hill community and meeting so many of our neighbors!  Starting Artists is currently in the search for a new home, seeking a donated space located in Community Districts 2 or 6 so that we can continue to serve our talented and deserving constituents.  Please email newhome@startingartists.org if you have any leads or can assist us in any way with our search.

Though good-byes are always difficult, we’re excited about the future of Starting Artists and look forward to the next phase of our development!  We will be hosting a Community Meeting to hear from you on Monday, October 22 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.  All community members welcome – please bring your questions, ideas, and thoughts about our move and future.

Starting Artists on NY1!

November Closures

Don’t forget: SA will be closed in November on the following days:

Thursday, November 11 (Veterans Day)

Monday, November 22 – Friday, November 26 (the  week of Thanksgiving Day)

You can always check our schedule online at the SA Calendar.

Starting Artists exhibit at Papél New York

We have teamed up with Papel New York, a lovely paper store on Court Street, to display a small exhibition of Starting Artists student photographs.  Featuring 9 beautifully framed photographs by SA students, the works are for sale and proceeds will benefit our organization!

Papél New York is located at 255 Court Street, between Warren & Baltic Streets.  Please stop by to shop and to see our students’ work.  Congratulations to artists Alicia, Chandani, Chloe, Duncan, Jauhara, and Lily!

To help celebrate its 50th anniversary, Americans for the Arts challenged constituents to create 2-minute  entries to the Why Arts Matter Video Contest.  The competition received entries from across the nation, and we are excited to announce that our Executive Director Marisa’s entry, created with SA students, won the grand prize!

Marisa’s Why Arts Matter video will be shown on the the largest HD screen in Times Square, the MTV 44 1/2 screen.  The video will play 4 times every hour from October 25 – 31 and will feature the best 30 seconds of Marisa’s video plus information about Starting Artists.  SA will also receive an UltraHD Flip video camera to continue making art!

UPDATE: See starting artist Julia to the left at one of our viewing parties and view clips from the video playing in Times Square below. The first clip was taken at night and the second clip during the day.

Read more about the video on ARTSblog:

ARTSblog asked Marisa to be a guest blogger to talk about the video. See the post here.

“We’re so proud of our creative and entrepreneurial students,” says Executive Director Marisa Catalina Casey. “Creating the video was a communal creative process. Afterschool Program participants brainstormed words they associate with the arts to create a prose poem, and then they matched the words with images I had taken around New York City. An SA intern, Quon, composed the music and we edited it all together to make the final piece.”

So we’re going on a field trip – join us as we travel to Times Square to celebrate our victory and watch the Why Arts Matter video on the big screen on Saturday, October 30!  All students, parents, and community welcome -  we’re meeting at 5pm in Times Square.  Halloween costumes encouraged!

See SA on NY1:

See the 30-second video clip as it appears in Times Square during the day and at night:

See the original, Grand Prize-winning video here:

by Julie Kanfer, Oct 22

On a recent Monday evening just before the after-school program concluded, Starting Artists was abuzz. Having completed that day’s lesson—visualizing poetry—a dozen or so students were now working collaboratively on their projects, or, like intern and LaGuardia High School student Duncan McInnes, helping others bring their ideas to life on one of the many computers in the room.

A three-year veteran of Starting Artists, McInnes, now 15, is very aware of the impact the program has had on his life. “When I was pre-Starting Artists, whenever somebody said, ‘artists,’ I really only thought of classic arts, like painting and selling artwork in galleries,” he said. “I didn’t think about the business side, or even running a company, or organization, or firm based around design or graphic arts.”

An attitude like that is music to founder Marisa Catalina Casey’s ears. “I think that’s a really important part of why we’re Starting Artists,” she said. “And not starving artists.” ...read the full story here.