The Chalk Project

You know, one day this will all be in the history books – why not add some colour?!

What is The Chalk Project?

The Chalk Project is creatively marking the current days during these uncertain times through our own lenses and with the staple art tool of summer, chalk.

We have even added bubbles, cornstarch ( to create sidewalk paint – that’s an RA secret ) paint brushes, a plastic glass and popsicle sticks to our kits because those are the lovely Rita’s summer favourites.

This summer for our 2020 Community Project, we have collaborated with Toronto photographer Kelly Carvalho, and The Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo Arts Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities on The Chalk Project.

The Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo Arts Foundation is an arts organization focused on providing opportunities to youth in under-served communities. The Foundation’s goal lines up with ours, and together we believe it is important to help young people build positive change and a sense of self-worth through art-focused educational programming.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many other organizations will not be running summer camp. Summer camp is something that Raising Artists, Kelly and The Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo Arts Foundation strongly believe is a very important piece of programming in underserved communities. For some parents who are working and don’t have the means to pay for additional childcare, they can enroll their children into many camps across the city for free or a very nominal cost.

Inspired by The Chalk Project, the foundation was prompted to start an initiative to get art supplies and other resources into as many childrens’ hands as possible. Initially Raising Artists and Kelly planned to provide 30 of these chalk project packages to families in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood, thanks to Grade 3 Teacher Michelle Dos Santos of St Charles Garnier. The Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo Arts Foundation quickly recognizing the need was greater than just 30 children, partnered up with us, and set a goal to raise enough money to reach 1000 of these chalk packages to children across the city.

In doing so, we have been working with various organizations, such as Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, community leaders, and the city, in order to expand this community project, and to reach as many children as possible.

Your support is an integral piece to helping us reach our goal. Please click on the “Donate to our campaign” link below to donate, and get a chalk project package to a budding artist this summer. Thank you!