The Children’s Art Carnival (CAC), a Harlem-based non-profit facilitating community arts engagement and professional development, and workspace opportunities to emerging and established artists.
Today announced it is among the first grantees of Ruth Foundation for the Arts (Ruth Arts) – a newly launched philanthropic effort dedicated to meeting the evolving needs and lived experiences of artists, communities, and arts organizations.
CAC is one of 78 nonprofit arts organizations to have been awarded funding from the Ruth Arts in this inaugural grantmaking cycle, receiving an individual grant of $10,000.
To receive a grant, each organization had to be nominated by a working artist contacted by the foundation.
These artists, drawn from across the country and at all stages of their careers, were asked to choose organizations they felt had deeply influenced their own engagement with art, presented visionary community programming and connected deeply with artists’ processes. CAC was nominated by Harlem artist Nari Ward.
“The Children’s Art Carnival is thrilled to be amongst Ruth Arts’ inaugural cohort of recipients,” said Michael Unthank, Interim Chair, The Children’s Art Carnival. “This grant came as a complete surprise – and we cannot thank Nari Ward and the foundation enough for their generous support. This award will allow CAC to continue supporting the work of local artists in Harlem and building community through the arts.”
Funding from Ruth Arts will be used to support CAC’s Community Arts Residency Program, specifically helping the organization’s resident artists to increase their arts engagement initiatives with community members throughout West Harlem.
The grant will also assist CAC’s efforts toward improving its Parlor Gallery, a space used for events, public programming, and exhibitions by local emerging artists.
The Children’s Art Carnival
The Children’s Art Carnival first opened its doors in 1969 in the historic Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Harlem under the inspired leadership of artist, activist, and educator Betty Blayton-Taylor.
Originally conceived as an outreach program of the Museum of Modern Art, Blayton-Taylor later established CAC as an independent not-for-profit organization in 1972 and began operating from its current base at 62 Hamilton Terrace.
Since its founding, The Children’s Art Carnival has provided arts programs for young people and families in West Harlem and in the broader Harlem community. CAC’s longstanding objective has been to support cultural development and growth in Harlem by providing creative experiences and space for arts and cultural exploration that builds bridges of understanding among community members.
We strive to center the individual artist in our work by providing resources, professional development and community engagement opportunities for early-career and emerging artists from Harlem, New York City, and throughout the region.
For more information, visit www.thechildrensartcarnival.org.
Ruth Foundation on the Arts
The Ruth Foundation for the Arts (Ruth Arts) is a new grantmaker based in the Midwest and dedicated to meeting the evolving needs and lived experiences of artists, communities, and arts organizations.
Based in Milwaukee and national in scope, the Foundation reflects the culture and spirit of the Midwest, which long inspired its namesake and benefactor Ruth DeYoung Kohler II.
A responsive and adventurous new force in the realm of arts philanthropy, the Foundation which was founded in 2022 distributed its first grants in 2022, providing 78 arts organizations with $1.25 million to date.
Photo credit: Courtesy of The Children’s Art Carnival.
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