The Brant Foundation is honored to continue its partnership with Free Arts NYC — an organization that shares its belief in the power of the arts to effect positive change.

Each year, Free Arts NYC brings children from New York’s Department of Homeless Services to Greenwich, Connecticut, for a day of art-making hosted by The Brant Foundation. The program is part of the initiative to combat the negative effects of poverty through the positive effects of arts education.

About Free Arts NYC

Free Arts NYC provides underserved children and families with a unique combination of educational arts and mentoring programs that help them to foster the self-confidence and resiliency needed to realize their fullest potential. Founded in 1997, Free Arts NYC has now touched the lives of over 31,000 at-risk children and parents, offering them high-quality art making experiences while paired with positive adult role models. The families we serve come from under-resourced urban communities and are referred by one of our over 40 partner agencies, which include schools, community centers, housing facilities, and shelters.

Free Arts Days are a unique volunteer opportunity that pairs underserved elementary-aged youth 1-on-1 with volunteers for an afternoon of “mini-mentoring.” While working together to create art projects based on the day’s theme, participants are able to create meaningful connections with someone they might not otherwise meet.

At a Free Arts Day, our youth have the opportunity to develop their creativity and communication skills with a caring adult and to explore a variety of art materials and techniques.

Learn More

URS FISCHER

Volunteer at Free Arts Day with Urs Fischer!

Hosted by The Brant Foundation

“I learned if you make mistakes they’re art too.” -Robert, Age 5

Volunteers are paired 1-on-1 with an elementary-aged child for a day of art-making and mini-mentoring. After a guided tour of the current exhibition with the artist, Error by Urs Fischer, you and your buddy will create art projects inspired by the works on display. A pizza lunch will be provided.

Once the kids depart for the day, we invite you to join us for refreshments on The Brant Foundation’s porch.

ANIMAL FARM: Katherine Bernhardt, Sadie Laska, Agathe Snow

The Brant Foundation is pleased to host its fourth annual Free Arts Day, in collaboration with Free Arts NYC, on October 1, 2017. One hundred children from New York City’s Department of Homeless Services will hear directly from artists, Katherine Bernhardt, Sadie Laska, and Agathe Snow, and create their own projects inspired by works in the current exhibition Animal Farm.

See More – Free Arts Day Inspired by Animal Farm, with Katherine Bernhardt, Sadie Laska, and Agathe Snow

Sadie Laska, Agathe Snow, Katherine Bernhardt

4th Annual Free Arts Day at The Brant Foundation, Inspired by Animal Farm

JONATHAN HOROWITZ

The Brant Foundation is pleased to announce the third annual Free Arts Day at The Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich CT. On Saturday, October 1, 2016, over 100 children from New York’s Department of Homeless Services will travel to Greenwich, CT for a day of art-making hosted by The Brant Foundation in collaboration with artist Jonathan Horowitz whose exhibition Occupy Greenwich will be on view and serve as a point of inspiration for the days activities. The program is part of Free Art NYC’s Free Art Days initiative to combat the negative effects of poverty through the positive effects of arts education and mentoring. As studies continuously reveal, children involved in the arts are more likely to attend college, retain employment, and maintain meaningful personal relationships.

See More – Free Arts Day with Jonathan Horowitz

Watch Now

Jonathan Horowitz Inspired Free Arts Day at The Brant Foundation

PLAY VIDEO (2:59)

Our 3rd Annual Free Arts Day at The Brant Foundation with guest artist Jonathan Horowitz. The kids and their mentors had the opportunity to meet the artist and view his exhibition before creating their own art inspired by his work.

ROB PRUITT

On Saturday, September 26, The Brant Foundation, Free Arts NYC, and The Department of Homeless Services collaborated to bring 100 homeless children ages 6-13 from New York City shelters for a day of fun making art projects with Rob Pruitt. The event, which took place at The Brant Foundation in Greenwich, CT, paired each child with an adult mentor. They partook in various art-making activities inspired by Rob Pruitt’s colorful and dynamic oeuvre. Planned activities include creating glitter pandas inspired by Pruitt’s iconic Panda series, splatter painting Marilyn Monroe posters in the vein of his Ikea projects, and creating their own version of his Smiley Face paintings on Free Arts tote bags.

See More – Free Arts Day with Rob Pruitt

Watch Now

Rob Pruitt Inspired Free Arts Day at The Brant Foundation

PLAY VIDEO (3:33)

LEARN MORE: freeartsnyc.org
DONATE: freeartsnyc.org/donate
VIDEOGRAPHER/EDITOR Andrew Dowd
MUSIC Helios Group

DAN COLEN

On Saturday, September 20, 2014, The Brant Foundation, Free Arts NYC, and The Department of Homeless Services collaborated to bring 101 homeless children from seven New York City shelters a day of fun and art-making with artist Dan Colen. The event, which took place at The Brant Foundation in Greenwich, CT, paired each child with a one-on-one mentor for the day. The pairs began with a tour of Colen’s show “Help!,” on view at The Brant Foundation. From there, each child worked on individual and collaborative projects inspired by Colen’s work.

See More – Free Arts Day with Dan Colen