SPLASH

For the past decade, SPLASH has offered free art classes to at-risk youth ages 3-19 in College Hill Courts a housing project on the Westside in Chattanooga Tennessee. The area is a high crime area reported to have 13 gangs at the time of our founding the non-profit.

We will work to establish SPLASH YOUTH ARTS CENTER and acquire the historically black James A Henry building to establish a permanent free art school in the Westside community. I will engage stakeholders, local officials, and owners, Chattanooga Housing Authority to forge partnerships and garner support establishing SPLASH Youth Art Center.

We will promote respect for Black culture through art fabrication and exhibition of

art produced by kids. In the school will be a library. This grant will allow us to stay in the community through Covid -19 as we continue to garner support and conduct classes virtually.

We will establish the first Black run and operated Art School in Chattanooga smack dab in the middle of the Black Community. I want to learn that anything is possible. We will manage to get a step closer to realizing the dream of acquiring the building.

SPLASH creates a safe professional art studio environment for young artists including urban low-income and disadvantaged at-risk youth to grow and express themselves through the fine arts via free art classes and workshops. The art studio workspace environment encourages art education, entrepreneurship, focus, relaxation, introspection, and creativity. Art-making increases hand-eye coordination, critical thinking, research and productivity causing a sense of well being and accomplishment as well as brain growth. The attributes of art-making addresses issues of healthy (beautification} environments and mental health.

Negative behavior patterns change because of newfound interest, achievement, and validation. The murals and personal works of art will revitalize and beautify homes and neighborhoods. Teaching preschoolers prepare them for school life affecting the direction of their lives, creating broader educational, social and career opportunities. Many will go to art school and college. Parents will learn the value of their child's gift. SPLASH apprenticeship style encourages and teaches entrepreneurship and self- employment. SPLASH will educate the entire Chattanooga Community about the importance and power of art for everyone and the potential in poor and disadvantaged youth by establishing SPLASH Youth Arts Center a free art school for youth.

James A Henry School, (an abandoned school building)is located in College Hill Courts a low-income government housing community with zero cultural resources to link residents to the broader Chattanooga Arts community. There are no cultural institutions or artistic outlets in the community for the residents to engage in. The community is high in crime and drug abuse.

Ten years ago my wife and I founded SPLASH in James A Henry School an abandoned building in the area to reach kids like myself who have an interest in art but no money to pay for classes to give them access to quality art classes and provide a safe place to be creative, learn about art, culture, their own history and exhibit their work. We also wanted to offer classes by Black artists that promote Black culture and history. Artists teachers also serve as mentors often developing paid apprentices from students who are with us for three years. SPLASH engages around 800 kids every year ages 3 to 19.

This project will aid in the preservation of the building for the establishment of a permanent free youth arts center; SPLASH YOUTH ARTS CENTER.

SPLASH will be the first Black-owned and operated Black art school in Tennessee.

SPLASH art school will accomplish these outcomes for the community.

Western art practices will not be the benchmark for excellence but ones own cultural history.

Outcome 1: A Black art school will celebrate Black culture and Aesthetics in a way different from the usual western European approach to art-making and increase access to visual art classes to at-risk youth from under-served neighborhoods.

Outcome 2: Increase students’ knowledge of self through creating works of art that relate to their families history and culture.. Students will learn about themselves through art-making and study of Black art history.

Outcome 3: Increase students’ confidence, determination and self pride via SPLASH art exhibits and sale of their artwork at various venues, festivals and galleries in Chattanooga.

Outcome 4: Keep kids off the street away from gangs and other negative influences.

Outcome 1: Increase access to visual art classes to at-risk youth from under-served neighborhoods.

Strategy 1a: Close opportunity gaps in neighborhoods with limited access to visual art classes. SPLASH will recruit at-risk youth (grades 3-12) from under-served areas in Chattanooga where visual art programs are not provided or easily accessible via public transit. SPLASH will reach out to community centers, church groups, and high need schools to recruit students. We recruit by personal outreach, sending fliers, and sharing information on Facebook and SPLASH website.

Strategy 1b: Provide weekly visual art classes at no charge in locations that are easily accessible by walking or public transportation. Set regular scheduled art classes at SPLASH.

Outcome 2:Increase students’ knowledge of self through creating works of art.

Strategy 2a: Students will be guided through a series of visual art classes that teach beginning, intermediate and advanced drawing and painting.

Strategy 2b: Students will be introduced to famous artist of African American American as well as western and world heritage.