Grant awarded
Open Studio: Creative Expression, Community, and Healing
→$25,000
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 work across visual art, photography, creative writing, spoken word, storytelling, music, movement, and collaborative murals — exploring identity, resilience, belonging, and hope. The year closes with a community showcase where young people share their work with families and communities.
Why Be Strong Families
We didn’t fund just an idea. We partnered with a great organization.
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 trust exists
Open Studio runs through three Chicago organizations BSF has worked alongside.
Local artists lead
BSF creates the conditions where young people feel safe enough to express themselves.
Young people at the center
Local artists lead and inspire participants. They are creators, not recipients of a service.
Every grant we make starts with a donor.
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