Waterville Creates! Launches Art Kits for All in Response to COVID-19 Public Health Crisis
May 5, 2020 /in Press Release /by nate towne
Free art kits for those in need available in May; community donations to support program
Waterville, Maine — In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis and the need to keep social distance, Waterville Creates! has launched a new collaborative program, Art Kits for All, an effort to help keep our community's families engaged and entertained during this public health crisis by providing free art supplies and instructions for art projects that can be created at home. Beginning the week of May 11th the kits will be distributed at the Alfond Youth and Community Center (AYCC) and the Downtown Waterville Farmers' Market. Waterville Creates! is seeking community donations to fund this ongoing program. Kit distribution dates and information on how to donate to the Art Kits for All program can be found at: http://www.WatervilleCreates.org.
"Closing our doors during the COVID-19 pandemic was heartbreaking to us. We realize how many local families and community members rely on our art programs, events and scholarships to live a fulfilling and balanced life," says President and CEO Shannon Haines. "We took stock of our resources and capabilities and realized we could provide needed relief using the art materials we've gathered for our ongoing art programs – and with a little help from our non-profit friends and local institutions, our arts-loving patrons, and our amazingly supportive community."
The Art Kits for All are assembled at the Colby Museum of Art; masks and gloves are worn during kit assembly and all art materials are disinfected to remove any risk of contamination. The kits are prepared and sealed a week prior to the distribution date to further minimize any transmission risk. Kits will be distributed in conjunction with the Alfond Youth Center's Feeding Families Initiative and at the Downtown Waterville Farmers' Market.
While Waterville Creates! developed the Art Kits for All concept, many local nonprofits are collaborating in this effort by providing volunteers and supplies. Partners include the Colby Museum of Art, the Kennebec Montessori School, Waterville Public Schools, and the Family Violence Project. The AYCC and Downtown Waterville Farmers Market are also lending a hand by providing a distribution network for the kits. Community donations in support of this effort are also being requested; Art Kits for All can be sponsored for as little as $10, and all gifts are tax deductible. To donate, visit: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/waterville-creates/art-kits-for-all
About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. Supporting and promoting arts education, exhibitions, theatre, film, music, and dance that is accessible to all, Waterville Creates! is leading the effort to make Waterville an exciting cultural destination and a thriving, vibrant community. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit www.downtownartscenter.org
https://www.watervillecreates.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Art_Pack_EXAMPLE-arts-spotlight.jpg 860 800 nate towne https://www.watervillecreates.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wclogo.png nate towne2020-05-05 05:13:212020-05-05 05:13:21Waterville Creates! Launches Art Kits for All in Response to COVID-19 Public Health Crisis
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