Our Impact
We’ve done a lot in a short amount of time. In everything we do, Follow Your Art Community Studios builds diverse, welcoming, creative spaces for everyone.
Inside The Big Yellow House...
We provide a safe, welcoming, and engaging space for everyone
to find and use their creative voice.
It's not just about painting lessons...
Since opening our doors in the fall of 2019:
- Our small staff has worked with over 1,000 children, teens, adults, and seniors every year since opening our doors.
- We’ve rounded out our programs with creative writing, theater, storytelling and ceramics.
- We’ve launched Live from the Living Room with author talks, musical performances, and storytelling nights.
- We’ve given over $14,000 in tuition assistance for families through our Arts for All program, $10,000 in 2022 alone!
- As part of Massachusetts’ EBT Card to Culture program, we provide assistance to EBT, WIC and ConnectorCare cardholders.
- We’ve delivered adaptive services to more than 40 families, providing creative fun for people with special needs.
- We’ve collaborated to provide fellowships to BIPOC creatives every year.
- We’ve hosted 12 gallery shows highlighting diverse creative voices in our community
But wait, there’s more!
- Upstairs at the Big Yellow House we provide a creative home to more than 25 artists and writers who work and connect with each other and share their work in the community.
- And let’s not forget the 31 birthday parties in 2022!
See more in our 2022 Annual Report
Beyond our walls...
We work with organizations, schools, and civic groups
to make the arts accessible to everyone.
- Through our Portrait Project, teen artists created 10 portraits of influential people of color, people who identify as LBGTQ, and people with disabilities. These portraits now hang in the main hallway of Melrose High School.
- Since 2020, our chalk mural collaborations with local groups have become a staple, providing community connection and amplifying the work of important organizations.
- Our Artist as Witness event featured the work of BIPOC artists from across New England that drew over 100 attendees and donors.
- Our staff work with SEEM Prep, a HS for youth with disabilities, among other organizations to bring creative projects into schools, nursing care facilities, and daycares.
- We’ve provided training for educators on creative development in young children
- We’ve visited over 6 schools sharing creative programs that compliment their curriculum.
“The growth we've seen in our child since beginning class at Follow Your Art has been astounding. He comes out of art class visibly lighter. We can tell how respected, cared for, and understood he feels... He looks forward to class every week and feels such a sense of pride… watching him blossom as a member of your special community is quite literally a dream come true for us.”
