Supporting Young Artists
Tax deductible
Help Red Hook Art Project Serve the Youth and Families of Red Hook!
The Back Story:
Red Hook Art Project (RHAP) is a non-profit that has over the past 12 years, transformed hundreds of lives by providing free visual art, music, academic and stress management instruction to children and youth living in and around Red Hook, Brooklyn. RHAP works to transform lives. We help students find their voice and move through the world with confidence, work with children and youth to create art portfolios for specialty high school admissions, and build lasting relationships within our community of students and teachers. We offer art programs and include stress-management and skills for mental health well-being, with a dedicated social worker on staff.
RHAP is a true community organization, with 95% of the participating students living in low-income housing developments in and close to the Red Hook community. RHAP serves a diverse group, with 75% Hispanic, 20% Black, and 5% white students. 90% of the students who attend RHAP classes come from low-income families. In particular because of the lack of funding for extracurricular activities and effective after-school programs, RHAP provides a safe space for self-expression, with guided instruction and the support and resources to help our students thrive.
During the COVID19 pandemic, RHAP never stopped holding classes and expanded its efforts to meet the sudden compounded needs of the Red Hook children, families, and community at large. RHAP began distributing hot meals, PPE, diapers, and other necessities. After months of responding to the changing needs of the community, it became clear that RHAP is much more than an arts organization. Through years of trust-building and partnership, RHAP has become integral to the fiber of the neighborhood. The pandemic provided a breakthrough and sealed a bond between RHAP and the Red Hook community - a connection which cannot be broken. All of this, despite having had to give up our studio space. We rose to the occasion and rapidly transitioned from in-person to virtual classes and community support. In fact, RHAP’s executive director Ms. Tiffiney Davis was recognized by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams as a COVID-19 hero, and RHAP as an organization has received consistent media attention for its work during the pandemic.
Now We Turn to You: Help us Continue to Serve the Red Hook Community!
As we emerge from this pandemic, it is clearer than ever that the youth in Red Hook need reliable, continuous support which helps them build resilience and see their own place in a better future. We are actively fundraising so that we can continue to serve the youth in Red Hook. We seek funds to support the purchase of art supplies, curriculum development, salaries for personnel, and rental costs for an expanded space that will allow for COVID-19 safe in-person instruction. We are currently working out of a temporary space with limited capacity, in the Summit Academy Charter School at 27 Huntington Street (between Hicks and Columbia). We are building towards a larger, more permanent space that can safely convene our sessions while adhering to public health best practices.
How You Can Help:
As of right now, we need to raise just over $170,000 to meet our 2022 goal. This amount will cover the costs of salaries for next two years to support developing and implementing curricula for the students and for rent in a larger space for RHAP’s programs. To this end, we have a monthly goal of raising $25K. No donation is too small. Every dollar counts. Your donations are a necessary and valuable support to our organization!
Together, we can continue to strengthen, support and empower the youth and families in and around the Red Hook community.
Organizer
Red Hook Art Project, Inc.
Beneficiary