ARTS NOW!
THE ARTS SIMPLY MAKE LIFE BETTER AND OUR COMMUNITIES STRONGER!
They are the creative foundation of our innovation and prosperity, and of thriving people and places everywhere – including here in our Region.
South Shore Arts takes great pride in our 87-year legacy of investing in our active and flourishing arts community here in Northwest Indiana and the south suburbs of Chicago. Whether it be our direct education, exhibition, and outreach programming that provides local, convenient, and affordable creative opportunities for residents of all ages and walks of life in which to participate in and experience art; or in our role as Regional Art Partner for the Indiana Arts Commission through which we help over 50 local arts-based not for profit organizations receive state funding to support their arts programs and organizations, South Shore Arts makes a material impact each year on the quality of life in our Region.
Our efforts and achievements over the past 12 months include:
1. everykid Program: To help ensure “every kid” in our region has access to as well as an enriched experience with the arts, South Shore Arts’ everykid program offers a FREE arts & literacy enrichment program based on inspiring children’s books such as “The Skin You Live In”, "Magic Trash" and "Your Name Is a Song," to 3,900 elementary students in 139 classrooms throughout NW Indiana and south Chicagoland. We also facilitate a Saturday afternoon Hammond Arts Scholarship Program for 4th & 5th graders nominated by their school Art Teachers and a Teen Arts Board program focused on creatively inclined high school students looking to advance both their artistic and leadership skills and experiences. We raise and invest over $30,000 each year to facilitate these creative enrichment programs that benefit many students who otherwise may not have access to the arts.
2. Art Exhibition: Honoring our 80+ year commitment to celebrate and champion local art and artists, South Shore Arts was exceptionally proud to present our 80th Anniversary of our annual juried Salon Show featuring new original art works (less than 2 years old) created and submitted by our local art community. Artists must be Indiana born or reside in Northwest Indiana or Chicago to participate. Almost 400 artworks were submitted this year with 55 pieces selected for the exhibit. Over $13,000 in prize money raised throughout the year is used to recognize the top artists and their artwork. Similarly, South Shore Arts is equally as proud to present our 50th Anniversary of our juried Tri-County Jr/Sr High School Show this spring (2024) where we celebrate the artistic and creative efforts of local 6th-12th grade art students from over 30 local schools. Over 600 student artists participate in this exhibition with top pieces and their artists recognized with over $15,000 in college scholarships and prizes also raised throughout the year.
3. Educational & Outreach Programming: South Shore Arts is committed to creating access to the arts for all peoples in our Region. Through our onsite hands-on art classes that serve almost 1,000 local residents of all ages and backgrounds in our two Art Centers, to our free Art in Focus bi-weekly art appreciation program that serves primarily our local senior community with an art lecture or tour the 2nd and 4th Monday mornings of each month at 10am, to our creative partnerships with the local Boys & Girls Clubs in Gary and Hammond, the YMCAs in multiple local communities, as well as programming with other not-for-profit organizations like Tradewinds that serve local residents that don’t always have access to art and creative experiences, we believe our efforts play a material role in enhancing and improving the quality of life for the people we serve.
These few initiatives are just a glimpse of how South Shore Arts champions the arts in Northwest Indiana and truly strives to fulfill our mission of transforming our region through the arts.
We hope you share our belief that the arts make our lives better and can serve as a conduit to make our communities stronger. As you contemplate your year-end giving decisions, we invite you to support South Shore Arts with a fully tax-deductible gift. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful impact supporting programs like the ones outlined above. None of those efforts would be possible without the generous support of community members like you!
Thank you sincerely for considering and supporting the Arts. We extend our warmest wishes for a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!
