Art for the Journey Programs:
As per the recommendations of the CDC, and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, all programs delivered by Art for the Journey are on hold until the COVID-19 threat has subsided. All studio classes are also suspended.
Even so, our staff continue to work from home: grant writing, donor stewardship, writing blogs, preparing our newsletter, preparing online and at home art projects for students at both schools, and other children's programs, adjusting and planning new schedules for OMA and OMA training, creating educational social media posts, and more.
Staff communications and studio policy:
The Frable Art studio is temporarily closed. We are conducting three online video meetings per week to keep each other updated on our activities. One of our goals is to focus on staying connected to our donors, partners and friends during this hiatus. We have not returned to the Frable studio, but when it deems appropriate based on continued knowledge that is shared through health organizations, we will return with rules such as: no more than ten people in the studio and cleaned and re-cleaned surfaces and uber clean hands, etc!
Upon our return to the studio, we will be installing an art exhibit to be shown virtually by video with commentary. This will be sent to our friends at Saint Mary’s Woods Retirement Community who have been on lock down since the onset, and placed on line to be open to the public.
We are also making use of social media platforms like Instagram, You-tube, and Facebook and sharing arts and healing related ideas, and special projects directly to some of our constituents.
Work study students and ASPiRE volunteers from VCU:
VCU has put in place remote learning, and has mandated that all students remain safe, keeping all work-study and volunteering shut down until the remainder of the Spring academic semester. We miss our wonderful teams of students, and want all of them to know we think greatly of them and as well as want to be sure they remain safe! We look forward to students returning in the Fall!
Fundraising update:
Thankfully we have received a $15,000 grant from the Moses D. Nunnally , Jr. Charitable Trust B Foundation for the OMA program, and individual donations that have helped maintain positive direction to bounce back immediately into full services for all programs when the time comes. We continue to work on a state-wide grant and a new VCA grant request for the prison program. Staff are making calls to donors and program partners just to stay in touch. We are deeply grateful for a $20,000 grant from the Perdue Foundation, a second $20,000 online gift from a generous friend and donor, and a matching $12,500 gift from a friend and generous donor against our Annual Fund push in December. We had a wonderful special gift from new donor George Harris, a friend of Cindy’s, that included some 82 art kits. These were immediately used for our online and home art projects for the kids at AJCES. Amazing timing!
Thank you to all the amazing volunteers and donors for supporting the mission of Art for the Journey to transform lives through art. Over these past 5 years, hundreds of individuals have made this work possible, and impacted the lives of thousands of seniors, adults, and children across RVA and beyond. We could not have done this with out you, and will look forward to working together soon to help others through art.
October 22, 2020 Art Exhibit and Celebration:
From information we read, we remain hopeful that the fourth quarter will bring good news and the virus threat will have greatly diminished, therefore we continue to plan for this wonderful event and look forward to celebrating art work, artists, program participants, amazing volunteers, and the healing power of art. Stay tuned!
Crossroads Art Center Gallery Space:
Art work displayed in our gallery space at Crossroads Art Center will be online shortly! We continue to exhibit paintings for sale! Go to https://www.crossroadsartcenter.com for more information. Crossroads has entered into virtual exhibits and is a wonderful resource to our Richmond community even from our homes!
There are wonderful resources being shared by community partners such as the VCA and Culture Works, and many local and state wide art organizations. We have created a strategy to provide and share wonderful content and links by these partner organizations through Facebook and instagram as these weeks of shut down continue. We have renewed confidence in arts in all of its forms providing needed solace and retreat, as well as creative inspiration to help us cope and plan anew. Stay safe, be well, and make create some art!
