Drawing Together is a local arts-based nonprofit which relocated to the Tri-Community area in 2021. Their mission is to work with individuals and communities to creatively envision a healthier future through art. Their work includes art education classes, adult workshops, and community projects. The nonprofit was recently awarded two grants from the California Arts Council, which will bring more free and low-cost art programs to the children of the Tri-Community area.
Last year the nonprofit served over 300 students at Wrightwood Elementary through art assemblies for grades K-5. Students learned about diverse contemporary artists through hands-on art assemblies, received an art workbook, had an art field trip, and received an invitation to a local gallery exhibition of the artists. Students could meet and talk with professional visual artists, including artists: Reyna Rivera, Teresa Flores, Ching Ching Cheng, and A’Kailah Byrd-Greene.
One of the two grants will be to continue the art assembly workshops and develop another workbook for students at Wrightwood Elementary and another local school in the Snowline District, to be confirmed shortly. The other grant will be to develop a new summer art and nature camp for the children of the Tri-Community area. The organization is currently in the planning stages of the format and asks that interested parents complete the survey found on their website at: www.drawingtogether.city/summer-art-and-nature-camp.
The director says, “all of the programming that we provide is intended to meet community needs and is based on community-identified needs, so community feedback is very important to us.”
Drawing Together was founded by Jamie Crooke Powell who serves as the Board President. She is an artist, educator and administrator. She has been designing programs with the Pasadena Educational Foundation where she manages district wide programs for thousand of students. Her art practice is comprised of project-based artworks utilizing a service-based model exploring the intersection of urban planning and public health.
Community members interested in supporting this work and the organizational mission can donate a tax-deductible donation via our website. For more information, contact Jamie via email at info@DrawingTogether.city or phone at 626-657-0065.
