Submitted by Alchemy Arts Center.
Alchemy Art Center is raising $15,000 to help close the gap in important programs that benefit San Juan islanders the most: Tuition Assistance, Youth Mentorship, and Free Summer Programming. These programs ensure that classes and workshops are financially accessible, placing young artists in impactful mentorships, and bringing free art activities out into the community where islanders live, work, and play.
The 2023 Spring Fundraiser can be found on the front page of Alchemy’s website at https://alchemyartcenter.com/
Alchemy’s Tuition Assistance Program ensures that islanders are able to receive the support they need to take classes and workshops or join the studio as members. Nearly ⅓ of all kids enrolled in Clay Club are on half or full scholarships. Financial need for islanders is at an all-time high in 2023, and Alchemy is receiving more applications than ever before. Alchemy truly strives to meet the financial need of all applicants, but the Tuition Assistance Fund is running low!
The Youth Mentorship Program matches young people with professional visiting artists in small-group sessions that foster positive relationships, create confidence, and build specialized art skills. This program is open to middle school and high school-age kids and areas of specialty include ceramics, printmaking, and photo darkroom. As well, each cohort is offered the opportunity to show their finished work alongside their mentors- an incredible experience for young artists who are learning to develop and present their work. The Youth Mentorship Program is tied to Alchemy’s Artists in Community Program, which invites professional and emerging artists from all over the country to live and work at Alchemy. This entire program is offered for free, and this year Alchemy has 24 kids enrolled in over 30 mentorship spots!
And every summer Alchemy Art Center brings an exciting roster of free programming to various locations on San Juan Island. You can find them at seasonal repair fairs in partnership at the Grange, painting faces at the San Juan Island Pride Festival, screen printing shirts during the Canoe Journey Gathering and the Lighthouse Festival, facilitating pop-up art activities at the Skate Park and Village at Friday Harbor, running art workshops at Linde Park, the San Juan Island Sculpture Park, the Farmers Market, the San Juan Summer Arts Fest, the San Juan County Fair, and supporting the in-house programming of Camp Eagle Rock and the Family Resource Center. This summer, they have over 50 free public events planned and are still raising funds for this program!
Alchemy is raising funds to help close the gap on these fantastic programs, which are also generously supported by the San Juan Island Community Foundation, ArtsFund, the Horizons Foundation, and the Norcliffe Foundation. Every donation amount helps bring a wealth of arts activities to the island community. Plus, every donor is invited to a tie-dye and screen printing party at Alchemy on June 10!
To visit the 2023 Spring Fundraiser, go to Alchemy’s website at https://alchemyartcenter.com/
Alchemy Art Center, founded by Maria Michaelson and Eben Shay in 2017, is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to creating a thriving arts community on San Juan Island.
