Grant Awarded To:
Open Studio: Creative Expression, Community, and Healing
Artemple’s first grant supports Open Studio, a year-long arts initiative from Be Strong Families that brings young people together with local artists to create, reflect, and build community. Participants will work across visual art, photography, creative writing, spoken word, storytelling, music, movement, and collaborative murals, exploring themes of identity, resilience, belonging, and hope. The year will close with a community showcase where young people will share their work with families and community.
36
540
3
Artist-led sessions
Youth impacted
Community partners
Why Be Strong Families
We didn’t fund an idea. We funded people who have been doing this work for twenty years.
Be Strong Families has spent two decades building spaces where people connect, share, and heal — through Parent Cafés, Community Cafés, and youth engagement programs recognized across the country. Last year alone they engaged more than 26,000 people directly and have trained over 12,000 facilitators nationwide.
Open Studio is that work, with art at the center.
The relationships exist
Open Studio runs through three Chicago organizations BSF has worked alongside for years. The trust is already built — no cold start.
Local Artists
BSF doesn’t lead the art. Local artists do. BSF creates the conditions where young people feel safe enough to make something honest.
Young people lead
Participants shape the themes and the showcase. They’re treated as creators, not as recipients of a service.