Frequently Asked Questions 

What is Fresh Artists’ mission?
Fresh Artists is an innovative nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young lives through art by providing art supplies to art teachers in our most under-resourced public schools.

What are the goals of Fresh Artists?

• Create opportunities for our children to become major participants in philanthropy, “paying it forward” to other children
• Deliver art supplies to children in under-resourced public schools
• Recognize exceptionally talented K-12 student artists by showcasing their art in high profile places
• Create public awareness of the challenges in public school arts funding by exhibiting children’s artwork
• Give businesses and individuals a tangible way to help keep art-making vibrant in our public schools.

Why was Fresh Artists founded?
We founded Fresh Artists in direct response to the severe cutbacks in arts funding in public schools. As an example, art education funding has been cut more than 50% over the past 20 years in Philadelphia public schools. From 2005 through 2008, only 83 cents per child per year was allocated for art supplies. In 2009-2010, that allocation was eliminated, although the number of art teachers increased from 160 in 2006 to 256 in 2009! The need for help is urgent!

How does Fresh Artists work?
Fresh Artists identifies and invites student artists to donate high-resolution images of their prize-winning art. Then, Fresh Artists accepts corporate and individual contributions to fund the purchase of supplies for art teachers. As a thank-you, donors receive large-scale reproductions of that student art for display in their facilities. It is a unique circle of giving where student art fulfills a corporate need and raises funds for future art making.

How old is Fresh Artists?
We were founded in February 2008.

Is Fresh Artists only in Philadelphia?
Yes. We started with a commitment to serve the Philadelphia public schools exclusively for two year and are exploring ways to have an impact on public education in our region.

Can a child withdraw their artwork from the Fresh Artists collection?
Yes. Fresh Artists may “opt out” of the original License by writing to us after their 21st birthday to request a form to sign removing their image from our collection.

How is the art chosen?
Fresh Artists is a “curated collection”: We choose artwork to attract and engage businesses and corporations to select for the walls of their offices. Once selected and licensed by the student and their guardians, we digitally photograph or scan the chosen artwork, and then return the original to the student.

Fresh Artists is a “virtual collection” of art: We neither hold nor own original artwork…only digital images. We chose artwork that is visually strong enough to be able to be enlarged for installation, sometimes as large as 6’ by 10’.

Where do you find the children’s artwork?
Currently, we are working with Philadelphia public schools. We visit city-wide student art shows to find promising artwork for our collection and also visit art classrooms.  If you are a teacher in a School DIstrict of Philadelphia K-12 school and feel you have artwork that suits our collection, please email us to suggest a time to visit your school.

We also welcome art teachers emailing images to us throughout the year for our consideration (low resolution, 72 dpi, at 5” x 8”) at info@freshartists.org

What happens to the original artwork of the children?
Once licensed to Fresh Artists, all original artwork is photographed at extremely high-resolution by a professional photographer or scanned by a fine art print company and then it is returned to either the child’s art teacher or directly to the child.

Can children or their teachers submit artwork for consideration?
Yes. Contact us through our website, www.freshartists.org. We currently invite only artwork made by children in K-12 public schools. We request an email with photos at 72 dpi at 4” x 5”.

How many children have donated artwork?
As of September 2009, 331 students have donated artwork to Fresh Artists. 100% of children invited to be part of this program have joined.

How do you get art supplies to art teachers?
This year art teachers will register to receive a grant of art supplies on our website. They will chose one Art Kit from a list of many different options, depending on their needs. The Art Kits will be delivered to the teachers at an in-service meeting after the first of the year, 2010.

How do art teachers get grants from Fresh Artists?
For the 2010 cycle, art teachers teaching in K through 12 schools within the School District of Philadelphia may request a grant of an Art Kit. Art Kits will be delivered to the teachers after the first of the year, 2010.

Why do you give art supplies half-way through the school year?
Fresh Artists is not intended to be the primary or sole source of art supplies for public school art teachers. It is intended to augment, not replace public school funding for art supplies. Our intention is to “freshen up the shelves for the second half of the school year”, when resources are typically at the lowest.

Is Fresh Artists part of any particular school district?
No. We are an independent public charitable organization, a 501( c)(3) organization. We are registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations. We currently offer our services to teachers in the School District of Philadelphia.

What businesses support Fresh Artists?

• abc6 – WPVI-TV
• AFD Facilities and Planning
• art4business
• Binswanger
• Caroselli Beachler McTiernan and Conboy
• City of Philadelphia
• CMI
• Comcast Corporation
• Delaware Valley Green Building Council
• Goodwin College of Professional Studies, Drexel University
• Health Partners
• IKEA
• Merion Art & Repro
• Nonprofit Center, LaSalle University
• Nonprofit Finance Fund
• Pearl Pressman Liberty Communications Group
• SAP
• Saul Ewing LLP
• Service Point USA
• Shire Pharmaceutical
• Silicon Gallery Fine Art Prints Ltd.
• Tasty Baking Company
• Tierney Communications
• Jeffrey Totaro Photography
• World Café Live

What kind of in-kind support does Fresh Artists receive?
We are grateful for the many important donations of goods and services such as a website and its management, all of our art and installation photography, scanning services, printing, and legal services. We operate our office in donated space, and with donated utilities. Most of the folks working on Fresh Artists are volunteers.

Do you receive foundation support?
Yes! We are honored to receive the support of the following foundations and family trusts:

• The Berwind Corporation
• Children Can Shape The Future
• Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Foundation
• The Hamilton Family Foundation
• Health Partners Foundation
• Mr. Gerry Lenfest
• The Petermeyer Family Trust, Philadelphia Foundation
• St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children
• Susquehanna Foundation

What benefit do the children receive from being part of Fresh Artists?
Fresh Artists is a “pay it forward” program for kids. First and foremost, our children receive the gratification and empowerment of knowing they are philanthropists, donating the use of their images to raise funds for other children in their community. At our annual student celebration event in the spring, we honor our young artist-philanthropists with a few small thank-you gifts such as a t-shirt with their artwork on it, a framed certificate of “extraordinary artistic achievement”, and a special “front stage pass” lanyard exclaiming “I’m Making A Difference” with their artwork on it. Several businesses have hosted special receptions for the children, their families and teachers at their facilities.

Does Fresh Artists need volunteers?
We need people to introduce us to businesses and corporations so that we can present our program of corporate art. We also need help with our one-day annual distribution of art supplies in early winter. Email us at bcallen@freshartists.org if you are interested in helping!

Does Fresh Artists have art shows?
Not really. We display the new, “fresh crop” of images donated each year at our annual student celebration event. We have some sample large-scale blowups from our collection that we can stage small, temporary exhibitions.

What is the long-term vision for Fresh Artists?
We have two dreams:

• To create a small, student apprenticeship program in the form of a Studio Workshop where students will print and fabricate the large-format, ink jet images that we give to our donors, and help install them in the businesses.
• To create a central art materials depot with surplus donated or repurposed materials from regional businesses, for the benefit of art teachers, and staffed by the student Studio Apprentices.

How can I make a donation to Fresh Artists?

• Call us (215-920-3317) and make an appointment for us to visit your business or corporation.  We will help you determine how our artwork can decorate your offices, and guide your selection from our Collection.  The program of gift artwork begins at the $500 level.
• Donations of any amount are most welcome, through Pay Pal on our website, or by mailing a check made out to Fresh Artists, and mailing to Fresh Artists, P.O. Box 44, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444
• Fresh Artists is a 501(c)(3) organization, registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations.  Donations to Fresh Artists are tax deductible.

May I give art supplies or artmaking materials to Fresh Artists?
Sure! Although we are not actively soliciting donations of art supplies or materials at this time given our lack of storage, people have asked us to find teachers who could use things they would like to donate. We know of many specific needs in our schools, and can make the introductions between donor and grateful recipient! Call us and we’ll figure out a good match! 215-920-3317

At what level of donation do I receive thank-you artwork from the children?
Thank-you gifts of artwork from the children begin at $500. You can download the Donor Benefits Matrix to see all the levels of gifts.

How does the re-gifting program work?
If you cannot use your thank-you artwork, we can install it the charity or nonprofit of your choice. We can suggest hospitals, children’s or adult daycare facilities, homeless shelters, public health clinics, PAL centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, or public libraries. The artwork is installed with an attractive Plexiglas wall label that explains our program and thanks the donor for their support of creative children.

Is the thank-you artwork original art?
No. The thank-you artwork is a large-scale, digital reproduction of the children’s artwork. They are high-resolution, ink jet prints, mounted on sturdy, rigid board, suitable for installation on walls. Although very beautiful and inspirational, these reproductions have minimal value. They are not signed, numbered, framed nor glazed.

Can you mount the artwork on different substrates?
Our standard mounting is on 3/16” black Gatorboard. We can mount on several types of plastic, Plexiglas, aluminum, or 100% recycled ½” “ReBoard”.

What paper do you use?
We use a heavy, satin finish paper, but have the capability of printing on the newer, sustainable bamboo and sugar cane paper. Special papers, finished, and mounting is possible upon consultation.

What are the sizes of donations and gift artwork?

• A donation of $500 may choose a 30” x 40” reproduction (Baby Bear size)
• A donation of $1000 may choose a 44” x 60” reproduction (Mama Bear size)
• A donation of $2,500 may choose a 6’ x 9’ reproduction (Papa Bear size)

A gift of $10,000 and above will receive bonus gifts of 20” x 30” posters in addition to the “Bear” size reproduction gifts. There is a complete matrix of donor gift benefits on the donor page.

Is your artwork framed and glazed?
No. Our standard fabrication artwork mounted on 3/16” black Gatorboard, not framed, glazed, not signed, not numbered. The idea is to give our donors an attractive, useful thank-you gift with minimal fair market value. If necessary, we can make arrangements to have your artwork framed, but we feel it is generally not necessary. Our installation process is unique, attractive, secure, and simple.

How do you install the artwork?
We offer complete installation services for an additional fee of $75 for small (Baby) and medium (Mama) size artwork. We charge $150 for a large (Papa) size piece. There is an additional charge for masonry walls or unusual installations. We “float” the artwork about 1-1/2” off the wall, securing it with spacers and screws with finishing washers.

Is the entire image collection on your website?
No. We have put a selection of images into our gallery. Please call for an appointment to see the entire collection. 215-920-3317

Download the FAQ Document. [.docx - 744kb]