NON-TRADITIONAL PATHWAYS IN THE ARTS
MESSAGE FROM THE CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Dear Community,
I am pleased to join the Art Start team as the new Co-Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer in our organization’s determination to move forward with impactful youth services in the creative sector. I hope to make strides on youth engagement nationally in the areas of workforce development for the career pathways that continue to nurture and support young people in gaining sustainable employment or education within this industry.
Our collective commitment to our artists, both young people and staff, work toward the investment of a community that believes in a healthy approach to uplifting the voices, hearts and minds of marginalized youth and the team that supports them. My investment in moving this organization forward is targeted around how we support through accountable and measurable outcomes the efficacy of our work and our contribution to the creative economy sector.
Dear Community,
If there is one thing we have learned over the past year it’s that just when you think things are starting to settle, nothing can be predicted except for the constant state of change. How we accept and embrace change as a good thing often depends on how deeply rooted we are into our values. Protective factors like culture, a sense of belonging to a supportive community, and a sense of selfdetermination can transform instability into meaningful evolution.
In our 33rd year of Art Start, our mission and values have grounded and guided us as a community. We’ve experienced how the creative process continues to support our sense of connection to ourselves and the world. We’re here and we’re continuing to evolve, widening our community to include more visionary creative industry collaborators that share Art Start’s mission to pave access and nontraditional pathways to an otherwise restrictive creative career sector. Enhancing diversity in the creative sector requires starting early in the continuum, cultivating future orientation and providing opportunities for youth to engage in arts experiences and access programs that promote career development..
Together with our emerging creatives, our dedicated industry partners who’ve committed to transforming the culture of creative work, and your support, 2022 forged access and belonging where it previously didn’t, and we are building on this strategically over the coming years.
Co-Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer
RESHARD RIGGINS
Co-Executive
Director, Chief Growth Officer
JOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear Community,
The work that we do at Art Start unlocks the creative potential of emerging generations. As I’ve stepped into the role of Board Chair over the past year, I’ve seen how our work can inspire not just the youth we serve but all members of the creative economy, myself and other board members included. The success of the Art Start Portrait Project and Art Saves Lives Benefit Concert have been motivating calls to action and I look forward to continuing this commitment to our youth.
As a creative professional with a non-traditional background in research and strategy, I’m particularly excited to establish new industry partnerships and develop a pipeline into the creative industry for our youth. Our board members are new and seasoned professionals in the creative economy, spanning nearly every industry. We have a passion for the sustainability and evolution of our crafts and with this recognize the need for diversity and change within the industry.
Our partners form a valuable and meaningful network for our young people. The relationship between youth and mentor is an inspiring bond between established and emerging visionaries. These connections forge relationships that support and sustain young artists, create pathways for new voices to be heard, and influence the future of the sector. While industry mentors impart experiential knowledge and insight to their work, our young people bring important perspectives and progressive ideas to the table. As professionals, it’s important for us to remember how we can lend our time and resources to open doors and create equitable opportunities for future generations.
I'm excited to lead the organization as we change lives through art.
Board President
MARION TANIS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COMMITEE
MARION
TANIS BOARD PRESIDENT
Senior Creative - Experience Strategist, Apple TV
DORE MURPHY BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
Director - Marketing and Audience Strategy, The Museum of Modern Art
ANGELICA LI BOARD SECRETARY
Senior Marketing Specialist, Consumer Imaging Technologies, Canon USA; Independent Musician
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS
Amy Kanagaki Board Member
Executive Producer, Tann Services
Armon Lewis-Amore Board Member
Events and Experiential Director, The Experiential Agency
Cathie Urushibata Board Member
Creative Director - Design, Shake Shack
Catherine Sun Board Member
Managing Director, Content, Teach for America; Writer
Daniel Kema Omachonu Board Member
Senior Account Manager, Amazon Web Services
David Turchin Board Member
Business Unit Director - Art, YSDS
Elizabeth Gardner Board Member
Senior Director - Partnerships and Advertising, Film at Lincoln Center
Emma Strachman Board Member
Professional Television & Film Make-Up Artist; IATSE Local 798 Union Member and Action Team Representative
Jamison Antoine Board Member
Vice President - Global Customer Experience, Warner Music
Matt Amore Board member
Elementary Classroom Teacher, Tenured Special Education Teacher, New York City Department of Education
Scott Rosenberg Board Member, Founder
Art Start Founder, Independent Artist
Walden Huntley-Fenner Board Member
Manager - Global Social Impact, Sotheby's
Zachary Maxwell Stertz Board Member
Commercial Photographer & Owner, Zachary Maxwell Stertz Photography
MISSION AND VISION
OUR MISSION
Art Start uses the creative process to nurture the voices, hearts, and minds of historically marginalized youth, offering a space for them to imagine, believe, and represent their creative vision for their lives and communities.
Through consistent workshops with long-term partners, including youth organizations, schools, alternative sentencing programs, and residences for youth and families experiencing homelessness, art becomes the starting point of a larger life process, and the start of larger conversations about the future of our communities.
OUR Model
Art Start uses a youth-centered approach to education and mentorship. Our programs guide young people to appreciate who they innately are, discovering what they have to offer the world, encouraging them to think critically, ask important questions, and identify the opportunities in their paths.
Many of our students are experiencing times of instability and transition, in systems that often stifle creativity. We focus on providing safe space for artistic expression and exploration, with an emphasis on the creative process that encourages positive risk taking and personal development.
fo S teRing a conti N uum
Art Start provides more than just one-off opportunities for youth to explore their creativity. We're passionate about creating sustainable pathways into the arts for historically marginalized communities. Our programs allow youth to explore the arts from a young age, while also offering continuous opportunities through their adolescense and into their futures, while providing consistent support and mentorship through the entire journey.
creative
c O n N ecti O ns
Creative Connections provides teens and young adults access to artistic exploration and career readiness opportunities in the creative arts industries. Last year, the cohort of 2022 graduated the Emerging Artist program, we held summer internships in both NYC and MKE, and we welcomed a new cohort of Emerging Artists in both cities.
creative
c O llectives
Creative Collectives provides year-round daily and weekly workshops at partnership locations, including youth detention centers and family shelters. Over the course fo 2022, we had five day a week programming across four different sites, including a transitional family residence, a non-secure detention facility for justive-involved youth, and afterschool programs in low income areas.
Public exc H a N ges
Public Exchanges is a public platform for the voices and visions of Art Start participants to engage with the public through exhibitions, publications and other multimedia works. In 2022, 9 exhibitions were held, reaching thousands of people and 2 public transit campaigns, including the New York City subway, with over 8 million impressions.
EVALUATION AND OUTCOMES
90% of Creative Connections youth felt they grew in their ability to articulate thoughts and ideas using oral, written, and nonverbal techniques.
90% of Creative Connections youth felt they grew in their ability to work as part of a team toward a common goal or purpose, engage in problem solving in groups, and listen to and respect others' opinions.
100% percent of Creative Connections youth developed an Adaptive Mindset which encapsulates Goal Orientation and Growth Orientation, two capacities that are critical for career readiness. All Emerging Artists and interns have a service plan detailing the future goals they want to achieve.
STUDENT VOICES
“My favorite part of being an Art Start Emerging Artist was the opportunity to work with a renowned company like Dr. Jart! It showed me the various opportunities that exist within the creative industries. I also enjoyed speaking one on one with the staff and being able to learn from their expertise. Getting an insider look on how companies collaborate with artists while providing them with additional branding cues and other information necessary to ensure creative control for the artist but also staying within the companies style. This was a key takeaway because I can apply the same techniques to building my own creative professional brand and I was able to learn more about how I can use my creative talents towards a career.”
- Emerging Artist Resident 2022-23
"Art Start was truly a transformative experience.The Emerging Artist program provided me with the opportunity to immerse myself in my art, away from the distractions of daily life. I was able to focus on my work and explore new ideas and techniques, thanks to the supportive and nurturing environment that was created by the residency staff and fellow artists. It was a truly enriching experience that has had a lasting impact on my work and my outlook on art."
- Hamza Sahi, Emerging Artist Resident 2022-23
800 youth in programs
IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
2,600 paid hours of career exploration
50% of teens continuing with Art Start programs
900+ workshops held
"Art Start has been instrumental in helping me tackle my goals. My life gets hectic and for me it’s not always easy focusing on or finding time to do the things I love. This program has been the middle ground for me. Not only because it helped me create a sort of balance between work and my life as an artist, but also because of the program I see myself becoming more intentional about my goals."
- Angel Greenland, Emerging Artist Resident 2022-23
“[My child] was honored to participate in an industry collaboration at Art Start. She is in the process of imagining how to synthesize this experience, her talents, and her vision with creating opportunities for her to manifest the money to attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the fall. Thank you so much for who you are with her, and for the love, time, and all that you do to support her and our young people as they evolve as people and as artists. It was a blessing to feel the energy she brought back and hear all of her stories.”
- Art Start Parent
“When I think of community Art Start is what comes to mind because it’s the most consistent thing in my life, no matter what else is going on."
- Hannah Plevin, Emerging Artist Resident
SPOTLIGHT: CREATIVE CAREER EXPLORATION
In Summer 2022, Art Start launched our Creative Career Intensive Summer Internships. Partnering with Milwaukee Recreation and NYC's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), six youth in each city took part in our paid internship, where they were introduced to a number of creative careers and developed hands on skills that can be transferred to gainful employment.
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS CAREER TRAVEL
During the duration of their internships, youth participated in collaborative workshops with industry partners across an wide range of disciplines in the creative field.
In July, Art Start hosted 12 Creative Connections youth to travel to Los Angeles for a week to culminate their creative career internships with industry visits, networking, hands-on productions and workshops and visits within the L.A. arts and culture scene.
DIVERSITY IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
In the case of New York City, People of Color make up 68% of the total population, but they account for only 34% of workers in all creative occupations. In metro Milwaukee, where Art Start also operates, only 13% of creative jobs are held by people of color.
Changing this disparity involves more than just Diversity and Inclusion today. Research shows that enhancing equity in the creative sector requires starting with youth, providing opportunities to engage in arts experiences and access to professional development programs, including non-traditional pathways, like Art Start's Creative Connections program.
Our work in expanding access to the creative sector wouldn't be possible without key partner organizations from these industries working with us to really make a difference.
Industry collaborations are a critical component of our model, allowing us to provide youth with direct mentorship, professional learning opportunities, paid internships and appreniceships, and access to an otherwise closed off network.
90+ Creative Industry and Community Partners
"In the summer of 2022, we had the pleasure of working with Art Start on Sotheby’s Summer Arts Academy, which brought together teens from across NYC to get a glimpse of the secondary art market and explore careers in the field. Art Start's dedication to non-traditional pathways and creative career development aligns with our own commitment to break down systemic barriers and empower a diverse and inclusive art industry. We could not have asked for a better partner than Art Start in providing a unique experience that was as inspiring and meaningful for our participants, as it was for us. We truly enjoyed collaborating with them on this important initiative and look forward to building on that success in the near future.”
- Social Impact Team, Sotheby's
Our partners vary across the different discliplines of the creative sector, ranging from fashion and beauty brands, to advertising agencies, museums and galleries, and record labels. Each partner brings a unique set of knowledge, insight, resources, and opportunities to share with our youth.
There is a place for partnerships at any point in our continuum. Whether it be guest artists coming into our workshops through Creative Collectives, companies working with us on production of Portrait Projects, or organizations offering interships to our Creative Connections youth, these collaborations always add value to our programs.
REVENUE AND EXPENSE BREAKDOWN
FY22 TOTAL REVENUE
$1,148,792
FY22 TOTAL EXPENSES
$1,087,089
OUR SUPPORTERS
Institutional Giving
Amazon
American Online Giving Foundation
Apple
Bader Philanthropies
Beggars Group
Benevity Fund
Bombas
Bright Funds
Christian Louboutin
Color Factory NYC
Dr. Jart+
For Art Sake Cosmetics
Frederic Coudert Foundation
Gardner Family Foundation
Glyphic NFT
Greater Cincinatti Foundation
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Heil Family Foundation
Herschel Supply Company
Humanities New York
Hyde and Watson Foundation
James B Mintzer Foundation
Jim Jacobs Foundation
Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation
Laurie M. Tisch Foundation
Lily Auchincloss Foundation
MapleTree US Management
Marcia & Philip Rothblum Foundation
Max J. & Winnie S. Rosenshein Foundation
Meliá Hotels International
Mental Insight Foundation
Mighty Jaxx
Milwaukee Arts Board
Milwaukee Public Schools Partnership for the Arts and Humanities
Network for Good
New York Urban League
No Studios
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
New York City Department of Youth and Community Development
New York State Council on the Arts
Phillips Auction House
Pierre & Tana Matisse Foundation
PepsiCo
Stems Brooklyn
Stertz Family Foundation
The Brearley School - Dance Department
The Charles Hayden Foundation
The Harbor District
The Rona Jaffe Foundation
Upward Vibes
Warner Music Group
Williamsburg Hotel
Wisconsin Arts Board
This past year has been a critical period of growth for Art Start, which we could not have accomplished without the generosity of our community. We know that meaningful, consistent, and lasting support works the best for our youth, and we know we can deliver this through dedicated time from our staff and resources from our community. This is why we ask you to continue to be a part of this journey with us. It is our hope that you have seen how Art Start has shown care and consideration for your gifts and that you join us in another year focused on building the capacity of our organizaiton so we can provide even more opportunities to more youth.
individual donors
Adam Blumenkrantz
Alba Saco
Alexis Winslow
Allison Harrison
Allison Mariani
Amir Hariri
Amy Kanagaki
Amy Stern
Andre Doughty
Andrew Bartel
Angelica Li
Antoinette Nelson
Armon Lewis-Amore
Ben Banks
Beth Lipton
Bonnie E. Yassky
Brette Billow
Brian G. Marilla
Briana Wahl
Brighid Gannon
Carl Marcellino
Casanova Cabrera
Cathia Ochoa
Cathie Urushibata
Celia Manley
Claire Botnick
Claude Scher
Colleen Celsor
Daniel Omachonu
David Wilson
Dore Murphy
Dylan Stein
Elizabeth Gardner
Elizabeth Hendler
Emma Strachman
Frank Massenzio
Gabrielle Cuoccio
Grace Fleming
Hannah Immerman
Heather Day
Helena Starcevic
Ida Rodriguez
James Goff
Janina Czerewin
Jenn Eakin
Jenny Williams
Jessica Dickinson
Jessica Messina
Joe Laurino
John Amore
Johnny Gaffney
Karissa Mollicone
Kathryn Klopp
Kelli Catana
Laura Mogulescu
Laurin Lucaire
Leah Friedlander
Lesley Jacobowitz
Lindsey Jones
Lisa Mitchell
Marc Cutillo
Mathew Hirsch
Matthew Amore
Meg Hale
Meghan Sandvold
Michael Coffey
Michelle Petrazzuolo
Michelle Stone
Mike Neafsey
Nichole Tichenor
Nicole Fell
Niles Jaeger
Noelle Gartzke
Olivia Murphy
Rachel Nayman
Rafael Schulman
Robert Puro
Ryan Bernardoni
Samantha Blaire Cutler
Samantha Sumpter
Samuel Markowitz
Scott Atherton
Scott Prentiss
Scott Rosenberg
Shauna Forbes
Stephanie Monseu
Stephanie Shemin
Tamar Cohen
Thanh Tran
Tiago Rachelson
Tori O'Neal
Tyler Ben-Amotz
Zachary Stertz