FYACS Capital Campaign Frequently Asked Questions
Follow Your Art Community Studios is running a capital campaign to purchase The Big Yellow House. Learn more about the campaign below.
If you have additional questions, please call 781-665-4140.
Overview
Follow Your Art Community Studios’ home is the Big Yellow House at 647 Main Street in downtown Melrose, Massachusetts. We have rented the space since 2019 with the intent of purchasing the property once we were firmly established in the community. Our initial purchase timeline was slowed due to COVID, but the owners need to sell now, and we want to buy! Owning the building means we’re not going anywhere and can continue to grow as a community resource.
In 2024, FYACS celebrated its first five years of building creative community. Our small staff invites more than 1,000 adults and youth from the greater Boston area into the “Big Yellow House” each year for classes, gallery shows, performances, and special events. Our signature Arts for All program has provided financial and adaptive assistance to dozens of individuals, and our collaborations with local partners enrich the broader community. Owning our own space will allow us to do even more to make creative experiences available to everyone.
647 Main Street is currently owned by Art Ventures, LLC, which was created by a group of founding supporters with the intent to one day sell the property to FYACS. Art Ventures has leased the space to FYACS since it was incorporated as a nonprofit community arts center in 2019. Thanks to the generosity of these early supporters, FYACS has been able to establish itself in the community and grow into the Big Yellow House, which has become the art center’s indisputable home.
Owning the property will be transformational for FYACS and how it makes creative experiences accessible to all. With this significant capital investment, FYACS will purchase the property we currently inhabit and make much needed improvements, including envelope maintenance and an expanded ceramics studio. These additions mean more special events and more classes for YOU!
By purchasing the property, FYACS can save more than $9,000 a year in taxes that we currently pay on the property. This added financial flexibility means funds could be reallocated to support creative projects in the community, also overcoming the challenges of currently limited city, state, and national funds for arts and culture.
Giving to the Capital Campaign
FYACS is raising $500,000 toward the purchase of the Big Yellow House between 2024-2026. Given the accelerated timeline on which the owners want to sell, we are raising funds for a significant down payment at this time rather than the full amount to buy the building outright. With $500,000, we can make a significant down payment toward the purchase of the property to secure a more favorable mortgage, as well as create a maintenance and renovation fund to make much needed improvements to the property.
There are multiple ways you can contribute:
- One-time gifts online or by check
- Employer matching
- Contributions from Donor Advised Funds
- If you would like to spread your donation over multiple years or make other arrangements, please contact our Communications and Development Coordinator.
Gifts of all amounts are vital to helping us reach our goal, and we hope that members of our community will make donations in amounts meaningful to them. All donors will be recognized on our campaign website, and donors of $10,000 or more will receive special recognition on entryway signage at FYACS.
- Leader: $50,000+
- Patron: $25,000 – $49,999
- Champion: $10,000 – $24,999
- Advocate: $2,500 – $9,999
- Supporter: $500 – $2,499
- Friend: up to $499
If you have questions about making a leadership donation or would like to discuss naming opportunities, contact our Communications and Development Coordinator or call 781-665-4140
Yes! We would be happy to work our a pledge and donation plan that works for you. Please call 781-665-4140 to learn more.
Yes, to the extent allowed by law. Follow Your Art Community Studios is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Tax ID 83-1372132
Yes, gifts of all amounts will be recognized on a digital donor wall on our website unless a donor prefers to remain anonymous. Donors of $10,000 or more will receive special recognition on entryway signage at FYACS
Additional Questions
Our goal is to wrap up our capital campaign by early 2026.
YOU are our biggest champion. We would be grateful if you can spread the word about FYACS and the capital campaign to your friends and family. A few ideas:
- Hold a house party: Invite some friends for an informal summer get-together and our Executive Director can share our vision of a permanent creative community center at The Big Yellow House! We have materials to help you get started.
- Hand out postcards in your neighborhood this summer.
- Share details with your connections – we have digital and print flyers you can use!
- Can you think of anyone who should know about FYACS and what we do? Let us know and we’ll reach out to them!