Splash

SPLASH GIVES ARTS ENRICHMENT ART CLASSES IN A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST STUDIO TO LOW-INCOME URBAN YOUTH IMMERSING THEM IN LOCAL GALLERY AND ARTISAN MARKET ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE A ROSTER OF 6 TEACHING ARTISTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WHO ASSIST IN PROVIDING ARTS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS SERVING LOCAL YOUTH FROM 3-16YRS OLD. WE ALSO PROVIDE ARTS ENRICHMENT TO SENIORS AT ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS.

SPLASH APPRENTICESHIP IS A YEAR-ROUND WEEKLY PROGRAM THAT SERVES 10 KIDS AGES 8 TO 16 OFFERING THEM FREE ADVANCED FOCUSED ART TRAINING INCLUDING FABRICATION CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND EXHIBITION IN GALLERIES AND FESTIVALS. THESE KIDS ARE GLEANED FROM SOME 100 YOUTH THAT WE SERVE WEEKLY FROM ALL OVER THE CITY. PARENTS ARE ENGAGED AND ATTEND OPENINGS AND FESTIVALS AND VOLUNTEER AT EVENTS THAT HIGHLIGHT THEIR CHILD'S ARTWORK. THESE YOUTH REPRESENT THOSE WHO DESIRE TO CONTINUE IN PURSUIT OF THE ARTS AS A POSSIBLE CAREER. THEY LEARN ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF ART AND BEGIN TO WORK ON A PORTFOLIO FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE LOCAL CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS COLLEGE. WE UTILIZE 5 SPLASH TEACHING ARTISTS WHO ARE ON HAND TO OFFER ONE ON ONE MENTORSHIP. THESE KIDS WORK ON LARGE CANVASES AND USE PROFESSIONAL-GRADE ART SUPPLIES AND FRAMING TO REALIZE QUALITY IN THEIR TECHNIQUES AND CREATIONS. THE KIDS WORK ON IMPORTANT PROJECTS LASTING UP TO ONE MONTH IN LENGTH. SPLASH CREATES A SAFE PROFESSIONAL ART STUDIO ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG ARTISTS INCLUDING URBAN LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED YOUTH OF COLOR TO GROW AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART VIA FREE ART CLASSES WORKSHOPS AND EXHIBITIONS. STRATEGIES FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ARE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS WHERE PROGRAM PLANS AND DEVELOPMENTS FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES AND SPLASH'S IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IS REVIEWED. COMMUNITIES SERVED INCLUDE COLLEGE HILL COURTS WHICH IS LOCATED IN WHAT IS CALLED THE WESTSIDE COMMUNITY IN CHATTANOOGA TN. HOUSING AROUND 2000 FAMILIES IT IS ALSO THE HOME OF ABOUT 15 GANGS ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY DONE BY THE CITY OF CHATTANOOGA. WE ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES TO 3 OTHER LOW-INCOME AREAS IN OUR CITY AVONDALE EAST CHATTANOOGA AND SOUTH CHATTANOOGA.

THE UPPER GALLERY. THIS CREATIVE PLACEMAKING PROJECT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH JAMES A HENRY SCHOOL WHERE SPLASH IS BASED AS A COMMUNITY HUB TO INCLUDE AN ART GALLERY AND SPLASH YOUTH ARTS WORKSHOP. THERE ARE NO CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS OR ARTISTIC OUTLETS IN THE COMMUNITY OTHER THAN SPLASH SO THE PROJECT WAS TO SHOW THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THIS ABANDONED SCHOOL BUILDING. THIS PROJECT WAS TO CONVINCE THE CHATTANOOGA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE CITY OF CHATTANOOGA TO KEEP SPLASH IN THE COMMUNITY AMID THE URBAN RENEWAL ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ACCOMPLISH TWO PLACEMAKING AND PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS THAT COMBINED WILL HELP THE WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD FRAME AND UNDERSTAND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PEOPLE PLACE AND HISTORY. TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS OF CULTURAL IDENTITY CENTERED AROUND THE JAMES A HENRY BUILDING AND THE WESTSIDE COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT CREATED A LARGE BODY OF DIVERSE ARTWORKS CREATED BY SPLASH TEACHING ARTISTS AND STUDENTS TO TRANSFORM THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE JAMES A HENRY BUILDING INTO AN ART GALLERY. OVER 50 WORKS OF ART WERE EXHIBITED HAVING BEEN CREATED BY 40 STUDENTS AGED 3 TO 16 OVER A 5-MONTH PERIOD. THIS EFFORT REIMAGED THE JAMES A HENRY BUILDING AS A COMMUNITY HUB THAT HOUSES A FREE ART SCHOOL AND GALLERY THAT CELEBRATE PERPETUATE AND CONTINUE THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF BOTH JAMES A HENRY THE MAN AND HIS PHILOSOPHY ABOUT EDUCATION FOR ALL AND THE STRUCTURE THAT BEARS HIS NAME.

SHELTER IN ART. SHELTER IN ART HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND CRUCIAL IN KEEPING SPLASH FAMILIES CONNECTED ENGAGED AND ENCOURAGED DURING THE LAST YEAR. IT IS VITAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES. A NEW DIMENSION OF OUR PROGRAM INCLUDES ACTIVITY AWARDS FOR SPLASH STUDENTS TO ENCOURAGE THEM IN THEIR ART PRACTICE AND PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED ADDITIONAL INCOME TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. SPLASH HAS CREATED AN ADDITIONAL GRANT TO AID RESIDENTS OF THE WESTSIDE INCLUDING ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS TO GAIN ACCESS TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES WINTER CLOTHING ART SUPPLIES AND FOOD. SHELTER IN ART IS COMPRISED OF SIX COMPONENTS: 1. IN-PERSON ART CLASSES FIVE TIMES PER WEEK. THE CLASSES PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO GROW AND BE MENTORED AND PRODUCED WORKS FOR EXHIBITIONS AND THE SALE OF ART AND SPLASH ART EXHIBITIONS. 2. VIRTUAL ART CLASSES. THE CLASSES PRODUCE WORKS FOR EXHIBITIONS AND KEEP THE STUDENTS ENGAGED WHILE AT HOME. MANY STUDENTS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC DID NOT FEEL SAFE COMING BACK TO IN-PERSON CLASSES SO THESE VIRTUAL CLASSES ARE VITAL AND MAINTAINING A CONNECTION WITH KIDS. 3. VIRTUAL DEMONSTRATIONS AND GALLERY VISITS. THESE ARE STREAMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND FACEBOOK TO CONTINUE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STUDENT OUTSIDE THE STUDIO BRINGING THEM INTO SPACES THAT THEY WOULD NOT NORMALLY HAVE ACCESS TO OR VENTURE OUT TO VISIT. 4. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS' FAMILIES IN THE FORM OF PAID ASSIGNMENTS AND FREE ART SUPPLIES. 5. LIVE ON-SITE COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS ACCOMMODATING SAFE IN-PERSON OPEN STUDIO VISITS AND ART EXHIBITIONS ON THE SPLASH SITE. THE COMMUNITY IS INVITED INTO THE SPLASH BUILDING FOR SOCIAL EVENTS SURROUNDING ART. 6. VIRTUAL ARTIST TALKS INTERVIEWS AND DEMONSTRATIONS BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS ON YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.