Sketch Basin

Sketch Basin elevates talented young artists towards meaningful creative careers by providing transformative studio art classes and professional opportunities.

The Why

VISUAL ART IS THE WAY OUT OF POVERTY FOR TALENTED TEENS IN NEW ORLEANS.
ONLY 5 of 30 public high schools in New Orleans offer advanced Visual Art courses.

There are exceptionally talented students at EVERY New Orleans public high school. They stand out. You can spot them surrounded by a crowd of onlooking peers as they draw a classmate's portrait during lunch. Or by the sketchbook they carry everywhere and as they doodle through history class. They have the capacity to create sophisticated portfolios with a distinct artistic voice, which can translate into significant scholarships to prestigious art colleges and post-secondary professional opportunities.

The What

SKETCH BASIN PROVIDES …

Rigorous and transformative studio art classes and professional opportunities for students with little or no access. Talented teens from public charter high schools around the city will be gathered into a student-run gallery collective, forming a supportive community of young artists. Each individual in the group will produce, curate and exhibit their own artwork, resulting in a portfolio which demonstrates a distinct creative voice. These portfolios are necessary for college and scholarship applications, creative internships and other post secondary opportunities. Without advanced studio art coursework, it is highly unlikely a student will have the support needed to assemble this level of portfolio.

We identify our students in 8th or 9th grade and support them throughout high school. Through our distinct partnerships, students are mentored by art professors, artists, designers, and creative professionals around New Orleans. They also have the opportunity to earn college studio art credits, engage in a paid professional internship, and receive college application support.

Sketch Basin also invests in art education within New Orleans charter schools by hosting collaborative professional development sessions for charter school art teachers. We gather teachers together and connect them with guest speakers and local and national art education resources. We also seek to support local creative businesses through each of our events, as well as local artists by providing stipends to our guest speakers.

Testimonials

"[Sketch Basin] always holds us accountable to what we want to be when we grow up."
- D'juane 11th Grade

"[Sketch Basin] brought me out of my comfort zone and made me create things that I never would have thought I could create"
- D'juane 11th Grade

"The best thing I've gotten from this program is broadening my future and giving me more (career) options"
- Sydney 10th Grade