Giving Tuesday aka #GivingTuesday, is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and has become a global giving movement that has raised over $300 million online in over 150 countries. We’ve compiled 5 art organizations that are doing incredible work in their communities.

 

If you want to support more organizations, #GivingTuesday has its own website with a directory to help you find organizations, charities, events and more in your own community.

 

1. The Art of Elysium

photo // courtesy of The Art of Elysium

The Art of Elysium is an artist organization built on the idea that through service, art becomes a catalyst for social change. We appreciate their full circle approach by pairing volunteer artists with communities in Los Angeles to support individuals in the midst of difficult emotional life challenges like illness, hospitalization, displacement, confinement, and/or crisis. They serve medically fragile children, teens, adults, seniors, those dealing with social, emotional and mental health issues, and the homeless.

 

Then, The Art of Elysium works with volunteer artists to craft creative, tailor-made programs for the populations they serve. They currently offer 110 community programs a month, serving over 30,000 individuals a year. Volunteer artists are then eligible for support services, ranging from artist salons and networking events to showcases and distribution opportunities. We currently serve 2,510 artists a year in Los Angeles. Win, win.

 

DONATE to The Art of Elysium

 

 

2. African Film Festival, Inc

photo // courtesy of African Film Festival Inc

We had the pleasure of meeting Mahen Bonetti, Founder and Executive Director of African Film Festival, a few years back and her story never left us. African Film Festival, Inc. is dedicated to advancing an enhanced understanding of African culture through the moving image. It offers diverse platforms for the wide distribution of African media through its flagship annual film festival and complimentary year-round programming. AFF is committed to increasing visibility and recognition for African media artists by introducing African film and culture to a broad range of audiences in the United States and abroad, bypassing economic, class and racial barriers.

 

Their mission is simple: To use African cinema to promote and increase knowledge and understanding of African arts, literature and culture; To develop an audience for African films; To expand the opportunities for the distribution of African films in the United States and abroad.

 

DONATE to African Film Festival, Inc

 

 

3. Cool Culture

photo // courtesy of Cool Culture

Cool Culture is a NYC based arts nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to amplify the voices of families and strengthen the power of historically marginalized communities through engagement with art and culture, both within cultural institutions and beyond. They accomplish this in part through partnerships with over 450 schools and early education programs to provide more than 50,000 families and their young children with free, unlimited admission to our network of 90 premiere museums, historical societies, zoos and botanical gardens.

 

They are hosting a #GivingTuesday event at Phillips Auction House tonight, November 27, 2018, from 6:30PM to 9:30PM. You can get tickets here.

 

DONATE to Cool Culture

 

 

4. Creative Growth Art Center

Work in progress by Paul Fields, courtesy of Creative Growth

Most of you may be familiar with the Creative Growth Art Center, and if you are not, keep reading. Creative Growth Art Center is a non-profit that serves artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, providing a professional studio environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition, and representation. It is one of the oldest and largest non-profit arts center in the world for adults with developmental, mental and physical disabilities.

 

CG will have a booth at this year’s NADA Miami and will feature work by feature work by Terri BowdenDan MillerJohn MullinsAurie Ramirez, and William Scott.

 

DONATE to Creative Growth Art Center

 

 

5. Free Arts NYC

photo // courtesy of Free Arts NYC

Free Arts NYC empowers underserved youth through art and mentoring programs to develop their creativity, confidence, and skills to succeed. Their Teen Arts Program provides high-quality arts and youth development programs to teens who do not have the economic privilege to access them. Youth are paired 1 on 1 with an experienced mentor to guide them through the complicated process of applying to art schools, visiting artist studios and cultural institutions, and exploring professions in creative fields.

 

DONATE to Free Arts NYC


top image // Free Arts NYC