About ProjectArt

ProjectArt is a national solution to the arts access crises. Since 2011, ProjectArt has made arts learning accessible to underserved communities using a radically innovative model. Today, ProjectArt classes are held in 13 libraries across NYC to children ages 4 through 17. Using art as the primary vehicle to facilitate creative placemaking, ProjectArt transforms underutilized public libraries into much-needed decentralized cultural hubs that nurture intercultural dialogue and create a ripple effect of cultural engagement and community building. Our highly impactful program model and direct grassroots work has received critical attention nationally.

Residency Overview

Resident artists participate in a 9-month residency from September through June. Each artist is assigned to a public library where they teach, mentor youth, and create new work in the library’s community room– 3 hours are allocated to teaching and 10-15 hours may be spent making artwork per week. The artists teach the students three classes per week using a curriculum of their design. ProjectArt maintains a 15:1 resident student ratio with 15 students enrolled in each one-hour class so each resident is responsible for a total of 45 youth per library.

ProjectArt encourages its resident artists to embrace their creativity and think outside the box. They are not restricted to using the library’s community room – the main library space is often available to artists who want to create art for the library. Using an assortment of non-toxic and library permitted mediums, many resident artists make works that are inspired by the library setting, its patrons, and reference collection. They also get to know the library patrons and managers, as well as ProjectArt staff. The residency culminates in a resident group show where the artwork the artists create during their time with ProjectArt will be reviewed and curated in a resident group show.

2018 NYC Jurors:

Max Wolf, Red Bull Arts New York
Ambre Kelly, Spring Break
M. Tony Peralta, Peralta Project