Creating opportunity through art
Inspiring minds and transforming spaces: ProjectArt creates educational and cultural magic in public libraries nationwide.
Mission
To change the way the world sees arts education.
ProjectArt empowers youth, artists and communities by providing visual arts classes and artist residencies in public libraries.
4 million U.S. children have no sustained access to art classes at school. Low-income students highly engaged in the arts are 3X as likely to graduate college as their peers with no arts education. The arts are recognized as a core academic subject under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act yet as of 2020, only 19 states include arts as a key area of their state accountability system.
FEATURED STUDENT
Jakira
An 8th grade student at the Homewood branch of the Allegheny Public Library in Pittsburgh, Jakira takes classes with ProjectArt Resident Teaching Artist Avery McGrail. When she first joined, she was a bit shy, but quickly found her footing through her thoughtful listening, curiosity, and willingness to jump right into each project.
Now, Jakira comes to class ready to take on anything, approaching her work with determination, creativity, and a unique problem-solving mindset that she generously shares with her peers.
“I like making art because it is a way to express myself and an outlet for my creativity,” she shares. She also loves experimenting with new materials and techniques, always eager to try something different and see where it leads.
FEATURED TEACHER
Skai Reynolds
Skai Reynolds is a multimedia fine artist based in NY/NJ, holding a BFA in Drawing from Pratt Institute. Her practice spans graphite portraiture, ceramics, woodworking, and installation — work that honors ancestral figures, reimagines family photographs, and explores the spiritual threads woven through everyday objects and memory.
This year, Skai brought that same depth and intentionality to our newest partner location, the Newark Public Library Main Branch, teaching students across all age groups. In one standout lesson, All About Abstraction, students experimented with line and mark-making using unconventional tools like bubble wrap, string, and pompoms, drawing inspiration from Wassily Kandinsky. Individual abstract drawings were ultimately woven together into a vibrant collaborative tapestry — a celebration of both personal expression and the joy of creating as a community.
Featured Library
Kendall – Miami Dade
Set in one of Miami’s ever-evolving neighborhoods, the Kendall Branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library System is a lively gathering place where people come not just to read, but to connect, play, and explore new interests. On any given week, you might find teens shaping programming through the Teen Advisory Committee, players deep in strategy at the Rook & Roll Chess Club, or community members unwinding at karaoke nights, tai chi sessions, or the library’s D&D Crew.
This year, ProjectArt classes filled the space with creativity across multiple age groups, with sessions for teens (13–18) on Tuesdays and younger students (ages 4–7 and 8–12) on Wednesdays. Each class offered a chance to experiment, build skills, and grow confidence through artmaking.
With its wide-ranging programs and welcoming energy, the Kendall Branch offers something new to discover every time you walk through its doors.
Funders
As a nonprofit organization, projectart relies on the generosity and support of individual donors, foundations and corporations. Our funders include the following institutions.
