About Arts to Grow

Arts to Grow (ATG) is a nonprofit arts education program partnering with New York City metro area public schools and community-based organizations, bringing performing, visual and literary arts classes to inner-city students between the ages of 5-18.  Our programs offer young people an in-depth, hands-on opportunity to work in small groups with a professional teaching artist. Children create original art work during classes that meet 1-2 hours per session for 8-15 weeks during after school, weekends and summer. Arts to Grow’s programs are offered free to inner-city kids and take place right in their own neighborhoods. 

 

  PS 75 - Collage & Cartoon Pop-Ups             Photo Credit: Bill Stanton

VISION

By engaging in the artistic process, young people develop an enduring passion for learning and the arts: they welcome new experiences, tap into their imagination, demonstrate innovative thinking and become self motivated.

 

In the New York City metro area hundreds of thousands of kids go to schools with little or no access to learning through the arts.

 

Arts to Grow’s unique and innovative programs offer inner-city kids the chance to explore the arts as a means for expanding their imaginations and learning to solve problems and work together productively.    

 

Key Milestones 

  • Since launching a pilot program in September 2005, Arts to Grow’s portfolio of partners has grown from 3 to 11 public schools and community organizations. In addition over 50 public schools and community organizations have expressed a need for our programs and are currently on a waiting list.
  • In the last school year Arts to Grow served over 300 kids.
  • Co-sponsored by Columbia Business School Alumni Club NY, Arts to Grow’s first fundraising reception in November 2007 was very well attended and net revenue exceeded projections. Sources of revenue included an art auction and two generous corporate sponsorships from Commerce Bank and Gerson Lehrman Group.

Media Coverage

  • Arts to Grow was featured on a five minute segment of Comcast Cable Network’s “Newsmakers” in December 2007.
  • Arts to Grow was a featured guest on Karen Salmansohn's radio show BE HAPPY DAMMIT on Sirius Radio Lime 114 in June 2007.

Recognition by leaders in the field

Eric Booth, Faculty of The Juilliard School and teacher/consultant at The Kennedy Center. Author, speaker, and founding editor of the Teaching Artist Journal

“My conversations with Mallory King have not only taught me a lot, but have made me a fan for what Arts to Grow can accomplish in the lives of students, as well as what it can do to advance the learning of the field. I am enthusiastic to be an advisor and cheerleader, and inspired by how the lessons learned from other programs are being put to savvy and strategic use.”

  

Theodore Wiprud, Director of Education, New York Philharmonic

“A reliable source for quality after-school instruction in performing, visual and literary arts is an idea whose time has come. I heartily support Arts to Grow and Mallory's leadership in making it happen.”

Parent of a child in the Elysian Charter School

“My daughter comes home excited about creating, and seems more outgoing, and willing to learn.”

 

Sample Programs  

Performing Arts                Visual Arts         Literary Arts

Movement / Dance               Cartooning           Book Making
Music with Found Objects      Collage                 Poetry
Singing Around the World      Drawing               Songwriting
Theatre                               Mask Making         Story Boards
African Dance                      Sculpture              Storytelling