Arts for All: Join Our Creative Community

The Arts for All Program at Follow Your Art Community Studios is dedicated to building an inclusive, creative community where everyone can access meaningful art experiences. We actively work to reduce barriers and expand access so that individuals from traditionally marginalized populations feel a true sense of belonging.

 

Arts for All promotes equity and inclusion by offering tuition assistance scholarships to low and middle income families and individuals, providing adaptive support for those who need specialized accommodations, and partnering with local organizations to create free, community arts projects that are open to all.

Tuition Assistance

To ensure finances are never a barrier, we provide tuition reductions for classes, workshops, vacation programs, and summer sessions, along with flexible payment plans. Assistance is available to individuals and families demonstrating a broad range of financial needs.

EBT and WIC card holders automatically qualify for 50% or more in tuition support through FYACS’s participation in the Massachusetts Card to Culture Program. We also consider additional factors such as cost of living, family size, and extenuating circumstances when determining eligibility. The amount of support varies based on need and available funding.

Since our founding, FYACS has remained committed to ensuring that no one is turned away from our programs due to financial constraints. Our goal is to keep creative opportunities accessible to all

Adaptive Assistance

Arts for All makes every effort within its resources to provide adaptive assistance for individuals with learning, cognitive, or physical disabilities, as well as those with mental health needs or requiring interpretive services.
 
We welcome students (adult and youth) of all abilities and are committed to making reasonable accommodations whenever possible. This may include curricular or space modifications, providing individualized support through a dedicated assistant, and other adjustments as needed.

To best support our students in our programs, clear communication about the level of support required is essential for a successful experience.

Social Stories

It can be helpful to know what to expect when you’re taking a class with us for the first time.  Take a peek at what students can expect when taking the following kinds of classes at Follow Your Art:

Arts in the Community

FYACS offers select free community art opportunities at the Big Yellow House. Learn more here

 

In addition, FYACS partners with organizations and community groups working within underserved communities to bring arts experiences directly to their spaces and constituents. These collaborative projects are supported in part through funding from the Arts for All program.

 

Arts for All provides partial funding for the creation and implementation of free and open to all art projects built in partnership with FYACS. 

 

Email: ArtsforAll@fyamelrose.org for more information or to ask about community collaborations.

 

Building an equitable and equal arts community is a process:
we will amend as we learn and grow.

We know there are challenges accessing our program for some. We will do the research, have difficult conversations, and reach out to those who can help us when we don’t know. We are actively working to identify and remove those barriers as best we can. 

Our Current Goals: 

  • To continue to work towards building a more accessible space and program. 

  • To include outreach programs to those from traditionally underrepresented populations, including people of color and those who identify as LGBTQIA+

  • To develop partnerships with organizations working within underserved communities in order to collaborate on the creation and implementation of community creative opportunities that are free and open to everyone.

Our ultimate goal is
to help all people feel like they belong.

Arts for All is funded by individual donations from our community, and generous grants.  Grants have been provided by: 

Hamiltonfound
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Melrose Messina Fund or the Arts
Melrose Cultural Council