Our Mission
Follow Your Art Community Studios builds community by supporting creative endeavors for all, with opportunities for learning, growth, discovery, and outreach through visual arts, craft, writing, and performance. We are committed to inclusivity and diversity in the arts and strive to create an accessible and welcoming environment for people of all identities, abilities, cultural backgrounds, and economic situations.
For the Community...
We support, recognize and celebrate the arts by offering multi-generational opportunities for creative expression through classes, workshops, exhibits and events. Our program is committed to providing creative opportunities for all ages and abilities. FYACS also provides an alternative community space to be used for private and public cultural events, meetings, and celebrations.
For Artists, Writers, Creatives of all kinds...
FYACS supports local visual artists, writers and performers with space to create and promote their work, as well as make connections with other artists and the wider community. We welcome creatives to share their skills through our programs. Creative facilitators have the opportunity to teach classes and workshops in order to share their knowledge and passion for their craft. welcome the opportunity to work with instructors from diverse identities and backgrounds who can bring their unique perspectives to our community.
For Social Action...
In collaboration with local organizations, FYACS designs and implements community art projects that raise awareness of community needs of the greater Melrose area and beyond. Our community projects bring creative opportunities to a wider audience. FYACS provides opportunities for community members of all identities to create regardless of financial, physical, or cognitive ability, and bring creative arts services to outside facilities and schools.
Our Story
Follow Your Art, LLC, a small community art studio business, opened in 2008 and brought creative art experiences to the greater Melrose community both through its home studio on Main Street and through community outreach beyond the studio walls. Owned and operated by Kris Rodolico, it ran successfully with a small but dedicated team of artists and community members.
For over 10 years, FYA celebrated creativity and community.
As the studio mission grew and adapted to the interests and needs of the community, it felt more like a nonprofit community endeavor than a personal business. The time came to bring this vision to fruition. Work began to craft a mission, find a new space and gather even more community input. A group came together to incorporate as a nonprofit, another to pool resources to purchase a location for the center to live.
A new chapter, a new direction
Follow Your Art Community Studios (FYACS) became a nonprofit art center in 2019, with a commitment to building creative community by:
- Fostering a welcoming environment for all at our historic Victorian building at 647 Main Street in Melrose.
- Offering adaptive services and financial support so that ALL can participate (click to learn more).
- Working with our dedicated board, staff, and volunteers to shape all the things a community arts center can do. We hope you’ll join us!
Our Board Members
Liya Escalera, Co-Chair
Mandy Carroll, Co-Chair
Martha Grover, Treasurer
Jen Blesso, Secretary
Larry Bouchie
Manjula Karamcheti
Alix Klingenberg
Allyson Livingstone
Steve Locke
Elizabeth Perreault
Garin Boyd