Say ‘No’ To Bad Office Decor While Giving A Kid Access to Arts Programming
Finding cool wall decor for the office can be a challenge. How many times have you been in an office and realized the only thing adorning the walls are posters promoting the company’s health insurance? Or even worse, stock images and abstract prints that are reminiscent of the sales section at Winners?
The Estey Art Initiative, a nonprofit that offers after-school art classes at schools across New Brunswick for students in grades three, four and five, is giving New Brunswick businesses an opportunity to up their decor game while also helping an important cause.
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The organization recently launched its One 4 One fundraiser, where children who have taken their programs have the opportunity to lend their art to a local business for one year. The local business will rent the piece of art at the full cost of a child to participate in the Estey Art Initiative program, $325.
It’s a fundraiser that allows the students to pay it forward, while also getting their artwork displayed in a professional setting for more eyes to see.
“They are paying it forward by donating a piece of artwork, or some kids have donated the entire sketchbook that they’ve done with us, which is 10 pages,” says Anna Merrithew, a program director with Estey Art Initiative. “They’ll donate a piece of artwork or more and then we’ll put it in a very nice frame, make it look stunning, and then we ask businesses if they would like to rent it for a year.”
Many businesses have funds set aside to help local causes, but the One 4 One fundraiser offers a different kind of experience for donors.
“Instead of just asking for donations or sponsorship, they’re able to walk by and see this painting a kid has drawn,” says Merrithew. “They get to be reminded of what it is they are funding and helping run and they get to be happy about it.”
So far, Estey Art has seen businesses stepping up. New Brunswick tech entrepreneur and investor Gerry Pond has five paintings filling a giant purple wall in his office. Fredericton’s Grimross Brewery also has three displayed in their taproom. ConnextionWorks, the Restore and Sutton Group Aurora Realty in Saint John have all rented paintings, as well has Fredericton-based Right Choice Realty. Merrithew says the goal is to have 500 painting rented by the end of the summer.
“That’s 500 students who would not be able to take the program if somebody didn’t buy artwork,” says Merrithew. “That’s a huge impact. Although it’s ambitious, we’re going to try.”
Since it’s beginnings about 13 years ago, the Estey Art Initiative now offers programming in over 70 schools serving over 1,600 students across New Brunswick, including Greater Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, Miramichi, Woodstock and Bathurst. It’s impressive growth, but as a non-profit, Estey Art Initiative needs community support to continue to grow and give more kids access to art programming.
“The kids are excited about it. They’re excited about being able to give back to the community. But if the businesses are not willing to participate, then there’s a halt. There’s a halt in creativity, a halt in paying it forward for the children,” says Merrithew. “It’s really important because one painting means one child gets through. It’s pretty hard to argue with that if you have a budget for those types of things.”
Then there’s the fact that the artwork is pretty awesome on its own.
“It makes your workplace a lot more interesting. They’re beautiful paintings and pieces of artwork,” says Merrithew.
“Who wouldn’t want to walk by and see a llama with glasses on? It just makes you smile.”