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How We Help





Civil Art Publishing We publish written materials (books, articles, interviews, unique artist or scholarly writings) and develop a publication platform to make the API community’s cultural narratives, philosophy, and history tangible and accessible.  Youth EducationCivil Art’s thoughtful interviews and scholarly writings are utilized as source materials to build youth educational programs. These programs offer API youth groups a point of contact with rich cultural artifacts, creative and fun learning opportunities, and diverse critical thinking methodologies. Partnerships with Youth OrganizationsCivil Art partners with established youth organizations to provide resources, in-person classes, and seminars to youth groups.





API Creative CommunityCivil Art empowers artists, creatives, and scholars by generating written records of their cultural achievements. By capturing these stories with care and promoting them via digital and physical platforms, Civil Art enhances the accessibility, identification, and legibility of community histories and voices.



Civil Art provides a unique publication platform, archiving the thoughts of the API Creative Community.
Civil Art increases the API Creative Community’s outreach, impact, and access to professional opportunities by making their creative practices approachable to a wider demographic.
Civil Art combats the misappropriation and erasure of API histories, heritages, and cultures by documenting the diverse experiences of the API arts community.




The Need for Support for the API Creative Community
“There are just so many incredible contributions that Asian Americans have made to every aspect of our culture, from politics to the landscape of our monuments and cities… There’s a lack of knowledge because Asian American history is not taught in schools.”



“The Lack of Asian American representation in the larger art world economy has certainly impacted what and how knowledge about it has been produced and disseminated – if art objects are not available on the market or within museum collections it is difficult to know what actually exists”


Panorama

“The critic thus has a certain power of determination over art history, or at least great influence in creating the canon of art, as is evident, for example, in the naming by critics of many modern movements and in the “basic understanding” of the ostensibly incomprehensible, unconventional artists who initiated them.”


Britannica

API Youth



Civil Art aims to create safe, free, and accessible art educational programs tailored toward youth groups. We provide timely source materials and unique curricula by engaging important API stories in the creative community. 

Art education (art-focused seminars, workshops, lectures, written and designed materials) is an essential yet rapidly disappearing subject of learning. Thoughtful art education provides paths for understanding cultural nuances embedded within art and promotes diverse methods of self-expression and critical thinking. 



 Civil Art uses research and written records produced through its publication platforms to develop educational curricula, materials, and resources.  Civil Art makes art education publicly accessible in a culture where funding for art education is steadily declining, especially in public education.  Civil Art programs in-person art education seminars and classes in collaboration with youth organizations such as Apex for Youth, Lower Eastside Girls Club, CIDA, etc.  Civil Art develops art education and digestible art materials that can be difficult to access or even prohibitive to young and low-income individuals.  Civil Art’s published materials provide younger artists and scholars with tools to learn from industry professionals and further their career development.





The Need to Provide Art Education to API Youths
According to Apex for Youth, 1 in 2 Asian American youth live in or near poverty in NYC. 18% of NYC’s population is Asian American, but less than 1.5% of social service dollars go toward organizations serving them.


According to a 2012 National Survey funded by the Ford Foundation and the American Federation of Teachers, art education has significantly declined since the 1980s. Declining trends are most pronounced for students of color, who are more likely than white students to attend under-resourced schools.

According to Americans for the Arts, figures from the New York City Department of Education’s Annual Arts in School Reports, there is a 47% decline in spending to hire arts and cultural organizations to provide educational services for students and an even steeper decline in spending on art supplies and equipment over the past seven years.  

The Commission on the Arts at the American Academy of Arts & Science reports that we are at a crisis point, where access to art education is declining steadily.

Following drastic budget cuts from New York City in 2024, the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and its Cultural Institutions Group stated that the downward cycle of public funding for museums and cultural institutions “is unsustainable for the vibrant cultural system that makes New York a beacon for people to live and work…”



Benefits of Art Education



1.
Builds well-rounded individuals
2.
Broadens the understanding and appreciation of other cultures and histories
3.
Supports social and emotional development
4.
Builds empathy, reduces intolerance, and generates acceptance of others

5.
Improves school engagement and culture
6.
Develops valuable life and career skills
7.
Strengthens community and civic engagement



2012 National Survey

[Benefits of art education] include broadening students’ understanding of other cultures and history, supporting their social-emotional development and interpersonal skills, and providing career exploration and creative opportunities.

Students at schools with more art education earn higher scores on a standardized writing test, express more school engagement, and are less likely to receive a disciplinary infraction.tudents at schools with more art education earn higher scores on a standardized writing test, express more school engagement, and are less likely to receive a disciplinary infraction.



American Academy of Arts & Sciences

“...specific skills covered through arts education directly affect a broad swath of careers outside the core arts careers… From the interior designer relying on color theory to the architect who uses 3D software to the engineer who incorporates elements of design, the skills embodied in arts education have wide applications.”




Civil Art’s Previous and Forthcoming Youth Program



Walkthroughs
(continuing)
Civil Art has historically and continuously collaborated with youth organizations such as Apex for Youth, CIDA, Lower East Side Girls Club, Yori Chunsa, and Drawwing Cabinet to provide educational walkthroughs and fundraising opportunities to foster API youth directly.
Video Lessons
(forthcoming)
Utilizing Civil Art’s published materials, Civil Art provides video seminars that are publicly available and free to access. Civil Art provides seminars that incorporate API contemporary art and art history, combating Eurocentric art historical teachings.
Youth Seminars
(forthcoming)
Collaborating with Asian American youth empowering organizations such as Apex for Youth, Lower East Side Girls Club, and CIDA, Civil Art provides ongoing and in-person art seminars. As ongoing programming, Civil Art builds personal connections with students to help students engage in deeper conversations and community learning. 
Internships
(forthcoming)
Civil Art provides internship and mentorship opportunities to high school and college students who plan to immerse themselves as professionals in the art industry. Civil Art not only provides insight into art administration but also facilitates personal and professional networking opportunities.
Art Education Funding
(continuing)
With support from Panda Express, Civil Art has received $4,000 to provide scholarship opportunities to students in need of financial assistance to build college admission art portfolios.

CIVIL ART FUNDRAISINGHow We Are Different



Civil Art programs fundraising events that spotlight the API Creative Community 
(ex. Fundraising auction, exhibition, etc.)



 Civil Art uses fundraising events to provide supplementary programs (educational walkthroughs, panel talks, etc) that are educational and open to the public.



Civil Art creates curated touchpoints for the public to engage with API history, culture, and achievements.
 Civil Art designates a significant portion of raised funds to partnered non-profit(s) that directly support the API community.



Civil Art’s charitable beneficiaries use funds to provide education, mental health resources, financial aid, food, etc, to API community members living in or near poverty.
 Civil Art utilizes fundraising events to generate published materials.




Published materials provide source materials to produce educational programs for API youth, the API community, and supporters.





Impact of Civil Art Fundraisers
In 2024, Civil Art’s charitable auction, Night Market, raised $46,353 for Apex for Youth to provide education, mentorship, and mental health support to youth who are living in or near poverty.


In 2024, Civil Art’s fundraising event, Night of the Senses, raised $3,000 for Yori Chunsa to provide culinary career opportunities to orphans in Korea.

In 2022, Civil Art’s charitable private sale, At the Table, raised $100,000 for Heart of Dinner to provide quality food and produce to elderly Asian Americans in need of financial support.



Civil Art is a fiscally sponsored (Player Philanthropy Fund) 501(c)(3) non-profit organization & principal exhibitor. All contributions to Civil Art are tax-deductible to the fullest extent under law.   

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