boxes of joy
Boxes of Joy is a program that Kentuck began in 2021, which served 46 children under the age of 12 living in the West Circle Community. In partnership with the Northport Housing Authority, each month Kentuck delivers "subscription boxes" of age-appropriate art activities, all necessary supplies for completing activities, various art media to explore, and information for parents and children about the current programming at Kentuck. All activities are based on the exhibitions on display in one of Kentuck’s three admission-free galleries.
The original goal of this program was to provide a creative outlet for children in underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for this program has grown exponentially and Kentuck is expanding the program in 2022 with funding support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
With funding from the Challenge America grant, Kentuck is able to expand the program from serving 40 children to now providing monthly craft kits to 100 children. In addition to the expanded distribution of monthly craft kits, Kentuck Art Center is also able to offer in-person activities at the West Circle Community with professional artists, a special day of family activities on Kentuck’s campus called, “Day of Joy,” and a mentorship program to five rising high school seniors from the Northport Housing Authority.
example crafts
Each craft kit includes information on Kentuck's current exhibition, step-by-step instructions for a related art activity, and all necessary art supplies. Past crafts have included activities related to Gee's Bend Quilts, Story Quilts, face jugs, mosaics, memory paintings, and more. Below are a few photos from the step-by-step instructions provided in the kits.
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how the National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit: https://www.arts.gov/
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This project is supported in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.