DrawBridge

We recently hosted a fantastic Community Artist event with the amazing Patanisha Williams, a fourth-generation Oaklander and co-founder of Pata Ali Love Club. Patanisha's passion for arts and crafts truly shined as she guided children and families through a day of creativity, including photography and creative drawing.

Patanisha's approach to creative expression as a means to connect generations and heal communities was both inspiring and impactful. We are thrilled to have seen many families come together to explore and celebrate the power of storytelling through photography.

A huge thank you to Patanisha for sharing her wisdom and talents with us! For more about Patanisha and her work, check out her website :
Pata Ali Love Club
- https://www.palove.club/ -

Stay tuned for updates on the next Community Artists coming to San Francisco and East Bay sites in September!

DrawBridge seeks its new Executive Director!

The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing administration, programs, and strategic planning for the organization. The position requires a dynamic, visionary professional with a passion for hands-on operations and ability to foster growth of DrawBridge art programs.

Highly qualified candidates in the San Francisco Bay Area can learn more and apply at https://www.drawbridge.org/about-us/careers/

Marin County Government Giving Marin Multicultural Marin Bay Area Community Resources Mill Valley Arts Commission Marin Community Foundation San Francisco Arts Commission Marin Museum of Contemporary Art

DrawBridge announces that Executive Director Tracy Bays-Boothe is stepping down from her role leading the Bay Area arts organization. She leaves DrawBridge to become Managing Director of the Marin Cultural Association.

Tracy joined DrawBridge in 2021, leading the organization’s return to in-person programming in the wake of the pandemic. Since that time, DrawBridge has flourished with exciting new initiatives including the DrawBridge Community Artist Program in partnership with the California Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts, an annual traveling exhibition of work by DrawBridge youth artists, and a significant expansion of community-based programming across DrawBridge’s service regions.

“Tracy’s leadership has been instrumental in revitalizing our programs and spearheading new initiatives that enrich the lives of the children and families we serve,” said DrawBridge Board President Steven Wasserman. “Her dedication has left an indelible mark on our organization, and we are deeply grateful for her contributions."

Read the full press release at https://www.drawbridge.org/2024/07/26/executive-director-search/

Candidates interested in the role of Executive Director for DrawBridge can visit https://drawbridge.org/about-us/careers to learn more and apply.

For the fourth summer in a row, Bay Area children can enjoy access to free art experiences through the annual DrawBridge Summer Art Adventures program. Children ages five and up will explore themes of art, nature, and community in their neighborhoods and beyond. Led by DrawBridge facilitators, the program is offered weekly throughout the summer and is free for participating families. All materials and supplies are included! Learn more at https://www.drawbridge.org/summer-art-adventures

DrawBridge is delighted to introduce Mariah Parvizi, our new Program Assistant at DrawBridge!

Mariah brings a background in youth mentorship, mindfulness teaching, and organizing community literacy programs to her role at DrawBridge. Mariah holds bachelor's degrees in both Psychology and Education, Democracy, and Justice from UC Santa Cruz. With firsthand experience of homelessness as a youth, she is deeply committed to working alongside underserved youth, families, and community members in fostering play through art-making. She supports the ex*****on of DrawBridge programming, contributing to the organization's mission of providing spaces for youth to explore their creativity.

Please join us in welcoming Mariah!

As our second annual Drawn Together exhibition comes to a close, we are so grateful to our community of supporters who make initiatives like this possible for the children and families we serve.

This year, nearly 1,000 children and families came together to celebrate creativity and community! Each child’s work will now be returned to them with a special note sharing the locations their art has been displayed. In addition, our partner sites are preparing local exhibitions of the children’s work to reach even more members of the community.

Visit drawbridge.org for event photos and to see an online gallery of the children's work.

Thank you to our partners Marin Art and Garden Center The Drawing Room SF At The Crossroads Bay Area Bluestone and generous community supporters like you!

DrawBridge Summer Art Adventures kicks off at the Marin County Free Library in Fairfax this Tuesday, June 4 from 3:30-4:30 pm!

This month, design and decorate your own summer seed pots to tend and grow!

Join DrawBridge staff for free monthly expressive arts programs for children at library branches across Marin County. Activities do not require advanced registration and are open to families and children of all ages; all materials are provided.

For a full list of library branch locations featuring DrawBridge programs, visit drawbridge.org/community-events

Funding for DrawBridge programs at Marin County Free Library branches is provided by Giving Marin and the generosity of DrawBridge supporters like you.

Experience the exhibition Drawn Together: Celebrating DrawBridge Youth Artists at the The Drawing Room SF Annex now through June 2, 11 am – 7 pm!

The Drawing Room SF Annex is located at 599 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Learn more and view the online exhibition at drawbridge.org/drawn-together

Images: Prints, photography, and sculptures by DrawBridge Youth Artists living in San Francisco

Our friends At The Crossroads help young individuals facing housing instability build outstanding lives.

DrawBridge is delighted to again be part of ATC's We All Belong Block Party Saturday, June 1 from 1-4 pm. Drop by the DrawBridge table to see select works of art from our Drawn Together exhibition, enjoy art activities for families, and take home a free Creativity Kit!

Enjoy music, local art, delicious food, and engaging activities for all ages.

Learn more at https://mailchi.mp/atthecrossroads/weallbelong

Don’t miss DrawBridge at the We All Belong festival this Saturday!

Thank you At The Crossroads for all you do for the community!

Block Party Spotlight!

THIS SATURDAY!! We’re excited to feature two amazing vendors who will be at our Block Party with arts and crafts for the whole family to enjoy!

🎨 Drawbridge SF: Known for their incredible community art programs, Drawbridge SF brings creativity and joy to kids and adults alike. Get ready to unleash your inner artist with their fun and engaging activities!

🎭 CAST — the Arts Stabilization Trust — is a community-centered organization for artists and cultural workers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Stop by and make some fun arts and crafts with the team! Their interactive stations are perfect for families looking to create memorable art together.

Click here to learn more and RSVP: https://buff.ly/3QegOTL

We can't wait to see you there!

The celebration continues as Drawn Together: Celebrating DrawBridge Youth Artists travels next to galleries and festivals in San Francisco!

View works from the exhibition at these community partners:

The Drawing Room SF Annex
May 30 – June 2, 11 am – 7 pm
599 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

At The Crossroads We All Belong Block Party
June 1, 12-4 pm
Kapwa Gardens, 967 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Learn more at drawbridge.org

Join us today at the Corte Madera Library from 3:30-4:30 pm for free DrawBridge art programs for children and families! With a different arts experience offered each month, activities do not require advanced registration and are open to families and children of all ages. All materials are provided.

MAY
Friendship in Bloom: Crafting Paper Flowers
Create your own forever flower bouquets and bracelets for friends, loved ones, or yourself!

JUNE
Summer Art Adventures: Watch Me Grow Seed Pots
Design and decorate your own summer seed pots to tend and grow!

DrawBridge's free monthly programs at Marin County Free Library branches are made possible thanks to Giving Marin and supporters like you!

For a full schedule of DrawBridge programs at Marin County Free Library branches, visit drawbridge.org/community-events

We are incredibly grateful for the community’s outpouring support for DrawBridge youth artists and the second annual Drawn Together exhibition! Thank you to everyone who has given in support of the exhibition and joined us at the Opening Celebration at the Marin Art and Garden Center!

We continue the celebration as Drawn Together: Celebrating DrawBridge Youth Artists travels next to galleries and festivals in San Francisco! View works from the exhibition at The Drawing Room Annex from May 30 - June 2, 11 am - 7 pm and At the Crossroads We All Belong Block Party June 1, from 12-4 pm!

For details, visit drawbridge.org/drawn-together

The Drawing Room SF At The Crossroads Marin Art and Garden Center

We had so much fun today celebrating DrawBridge youth artists at the Marin Art and Garden Center! Thank you to everyone who came out to see the new exhibition and support free expressive arts programs for children across the Bay Area!

Visit drawbridge.org to see where the exhibition will pop up next!

Today’s the big day! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon at the Marin Art and Garden Center from 12-4 pm as we celebrate the opening of "Drawn Together: Celebrating DrawBridge Youth Artists!” This free family day will include art activities, music, picnic treats, and a silent auction featuring delicious dining and shopping experiences, tickets to area arts events, wine tastings, getaways, and more. All proceeds benefit DrawBridge’s free expressive arts programs for children. Learn more at https://drawbridge.org/drawn-together

Need a ride to our Opening Celebration at the Marin Art and Garden Center? Pick up and drop off will be available in front of the Albert J. Boro Center’s Pickleweed Library starting at 11:30 am on the hour, with final buses returning from the garden at 5:30 pm that day. Enjoy this complimentary transportation courtesy of the Marin Art and Garden Center’s Everybody Grows Fund! Learn more about this free community service at drawbridge.org.

DrawBridge is delighted to be featured in this month's edition of School Arts Magazine! Thank you SchoolArts and Davis for sharing information about our Community Artist Program presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and California Arts Council!

Check out the article on pages 44-45 of the online magazine or click on the link below in the comments to jump directly to the story!

☀️ The Summer 2024: Creativity issue is here! Co-edited by Tracey Hunter-Doniger, Stephanie Danker, and Darden Bradshaw, this issue explores how students can investigate their own ideas and make connections to the world around them.

🎨 In this issue: High-school students discover that the zine is a powerful medium for self-expression; middle-school students create symbolic artworks to honor teachers and staff members who inspired them; elementary students express solutions to community issues through printmaking; young students design a hat for a friend based on their friend’s preferences; and more. And lastly, this summer's Contemporary Art in Context feature is painter and mixed-media artist, Rosa Ibarra.

Check out the digital edition now: https://hubs.ly/Q02xzSvy0

Do you have your free tickets to the Opening Celebration of Drawn Together at Marin Art and Garden Center? Join us this Sunday, May 19 from 12-4 pm to celebrate creativity and community! This family-friendly event will feature a viewing of the exhibition, picnic treats, music, and family art activities. Don’t miss the silent auction where you can bid on fantastic items and experiences from Bay Area restaurants, wineries and more! All proceeds benefit DrawBridge’s expressive arts programs for children. Reserve your tickets today at https://drawbridge.org/drawn-together .

"Drawn Together: Celebrating DrawBridge Youth Artists" opens this week at Marin Art and Garden Center! Join us for the opening celebration this Sunday, May 19 from 12-4 pm in the Center’s gardens and studio. This free family day will include art activities and picnic treats, along with a silent auction featuring delicious dining and shopping experiences, tickets to area arts events, wine tastings, getaways, and more. All proceeds benefit DrawBridge’s free expressive arts programs for children.

Can’t wait to see the works of these talented children? A sneak peek of the exhibition will be available in the Center’s Studio this Friday and Saturday from 12-4 pm.

Learn more and RSVP today at https://drawbridge.org/drawn-together

Bid and win at DrawBridge’s silent auction during the Drawn Together Opening Celebration at the Marin Art and Garden Center! Take home dining experiences at delicious restaurants, wellness packages, artist workshops, and much more. All proceeds benefit DrawBridge’s expressive arts programs for children. Get your free tickets today at drawbridge.org

Support DrawBridge programs during our silent auction Sunday, May 19 at the Drawn Together Opening Celebration at the Marin Art and Garden Center! Take home tickets to area museums, charming Wine Country getaways, adventure packages, and much more. All proceeds benefit DrawBridge’s expressive arts programs for children. Get your free tickets today at drawbridge.org

Join DrawBridge staff at the Point Reyes Library this Thursday, May 16 from 3:30-4:30 pm for "Friendship in Bloom: Crafting Paper Flowers."

Featuring a different art experience each month, DrawBridge's free programs for children at Marin County Free Library branches are made possible thanks to Giving Marin and supporters like you!

For a full schedule of DrawBridge programs at Marin County Free Library branches, visit drawbridge.org/community-events

Don’t miss our silent auction at the Drawn Together Opening Celebration from 12-3 pm in the Marin Art and Garden Center’s Studio! Win dining experiences at delicious restaurants, tickets to area museums, adventure packages, and much more. All proceeds benefit DrawBridge’s expressive arts programs for children. Get your free tickets today at drawbridge.org

The new exhibition, “Drawn Together: Celebrating DrawBridge Youth Artists” celebrates the power of creativity to bring us together. As part of the celebration, the works of DrawBridge youth artists will be exhibited at each of our program sites, complete with receptions for families and caregivers. A traveling exhibition will follow, hosted at galleries, community centers, and festivals throughout the Bay Area.

Drawn Together is presented in partnership with Marin Art and Garden Center, Drawing Room Annex SF, At the Crossroads, Catholic Charities of San Francisco, Charities Housing, City of San Rafael Albert J. Boro Community Center, Community Education Partnerships, Homeward Bound of Marin, Hamilton Families, Housing Authority of the City of Alameda, and the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation.

For a complete schedule of exhibition locations, visit drawbridge.org

Thank you Marin Art and Garden Center for your partnership and support of DrawBridge! We can't wait to celebrate with you!

🌟Community Spotlight🌟Read about Tracy Bays-Boothe, the extraordinary executive director of .youth.arts. Make plans to meet her during the inspiring event, Drawn Together: Celebrating Drawbridge Youth Artists on May 19th from 12-4pm in The Studio.

Spotlight story: maringarden.org/tracy-bays-boothe-spotlight

Reserve free tickets: DrawBridge.org/drawn-together-tickets

Learn more: maringarden.org/events/drawn-together

Thank you Marin Art and Garden Center for featuring DrawBridge as part of your community spotlight!

We are delighted to partner again with the Marin Art and Garden Center to kick off the year's Drawn Together exhibition, Sunday, May 19!

Thank you MAGC for all you do for DrawBridge children and the community!

Tracy Bays-Boothe Spotlight – Marin Art and Garden Center “The beautiful setting, ample parking, warmth and professionalism of their staff and volunteers creates the perfect setting to celebrate creativity and gather community!”

We at DrawBridge are so grateful to our community for your generous support of Drawn Together: Celebrating DrawBridge Youth Artists!

This year’s exhibition and programs for children and families are made possible thanks to Bay Area Bluestone, Marin Art and Garden Center, Bank of Marin, Mission San Rafael Rotary Club, The Drawing Room SF, Linda and Tony Rubin, Bruce and Janie Burtch, Paul and Wendi Gilbert in honor of Ellen Messing, Mollie Stone's Markets, Good Earth Natural Foods, The Rock Poster Society, The Pasha Group, Tisha Mitsunaga, Larry and Gail Siegel, Alan Krepack and Celeste Perry, Gary Ragghianti, Bill and Natalya Veen, The North Bay Group at Morgan Stanley, Alan Mayer and Clara Greisman, Amy Levine and Jeff Hall, and generous supporters like you!

Thank you for helping DrawBridge connect children with creativity and community!

Learn more at drawbridge.org

Support DrawBridge and double your impact today! Thanks to a generous matching gift by the DrawBridge Board of Directors, gifts received will be matched up to $3,500! Make your tax-deductible donation and ensure programs like Drawn Together remain free for the children we serve. Visit https://drawbridge.org/donate-now to make your gift today!

Marin Art and Garden Center
Drawingroomsf - ANNEX

Join us today at the Fairfax Library for free DrawBridge art programs for children and families!

DrawBridge's free monthly programs at Marin County Free Library branches are made possible thanks to Giving Marin and supporters like you!

For a full schedule of DrawBridge programs at Marin County Free Library branches, visit drawbridge.org/community-events

Did you know families can enjoy complimentary transportation to the Drawn Together Opening Celebration on May 19? Thanks to the generosity of the Marin Art and Garden Center’s Everybody Grows Fund, families can travel to our free family day at no cost! Pick up and drop off will be available in front of the Pickleweed Library at Pickleweed Park & Albert J. Boro Community Center starting at 11:30 am on the hour, with final buses returning from Marin Art and Garden Center at 5:30 pm that day. To learn more about this free service to the community, visit drawbridge.org.