DRAW NYC, an open-air drawing studio
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DRAW NYC is an open-air drawing studio, offering access to fine art materials and a place to draw together in public. Designed for New Yorkers of all ages and always free, elements include:
- high-quality paper, pencils, charcoal, drawing boards, and other tools and materials for drawing;
- printed cards with activities conceived by artists and educators;
- art books;
- a custom-designed cart that stores, moves, and displays the collection (which can be closed and locked in place), and eight benches for seating;
- an adjacent “street gallery” displaying drawings made at previous locations, as well as large reproductions of artists’ work provided through a partnership with The Drawing Center;
- staff to set up and run the program (one program staff member and one manager);
- teaching artists or Artists-in-Residence at most deployments;
- an option for hosts, other organizations, or local businesses to participate by adding special activities (e.g. with still-life displays).
Here’s what happens: people approach, sit down, pick up materials, and begin drawing. Some follow artist prompts or are introduced to different techniques and materials (e.g. blending sticks and watercolor pencils) by our staff. Some draw for just a short time, others much longer. People feel good, even proud, while drawing in public, and no matter their skill level, people are transformed into artists. This program has served New Yorkers since 2015.
Help bring drawing to all NYC neighborhoods.
Other ways to get involved:
- Apply to be an Artist in Residence. Contact us.
- Artists, illustrators, educators: share a prompt and inspire New Yorkers to draw.
- Contact us to bring DRAW NYC to your community.
From our Artists in Residence:
“I felt like some moments could change something, maybe one moment could change someone’s life.”
— 2017 AIR Luyi Wang
“What I enjoyed most were the personal interactions I had..Being an AIR strengthened my desire to take a more active role as an artist in my community, and to engage with the public more as an artist and art educator.”
— 2015 AIR Susan Coyne
“Most of all, I appreciated the opportunity to connect with members of so many different communities in NYC through art, rather than producing work as an anonymous observer.”
— 2015 AIR Genevieve Irwin
Materials donated by:
Blick Art Materials has generously donated high-quality art materials to DRAW NYC since 2015.
The Drawing Center has generously donated a number of its Drawing Papers and provided passes for free admission to its galleries in SoHo.
2019 Supporters:
DRAW NYC is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Become a sponsor!
Blog posts about DRAW NYC:
Uni Project’s DRAW NYC in Bronx with Blick Art Materials, NYC DOT, Bronx Museum.
Today, the Uni Project created an open-air art studio at a community street festival hosted by the Bronx Museum of the Arts. Uni Project Artist-in-Residence Courtney Menard shared her print-making with passersby, and we were joined by staff from Blick's...
The Uni Project’s DRAW NYC lands on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn
DRAW NYC, an open-air art studio, visited a NYC DOT Weekend Walk hosted by Flatbush-Nostrand Junction BID. Our participation was made possible by NYC DOT and supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in...
Creating a place to draw on the streets of NYC with Blick Art Materials
Over the next several months, the Uni Project will work with Blick Art Materials to bring our open-air art studio (DRAW NYC) to community street festivals known as Weekend Walks. Today we were hosted by Hamilton Heights-West Harlem Community Preservation Organization...
Pop-up drawing studio and artist in residence on 125th St in East Harlem
Our DRAW NYC program came out to an Old School Block Party hosted by our friends at New Harlem East Merchants Association and the 100 Gates Project. Thanks to our program coordinator Arli and 2018 artist in residence Courtney Menard for braving the heat....
Pop-up West Harlem!
Today, we launch a special series of pop-up installations serving West Harlem. First stop: Sheltering Arms Pool, where our BUILD NYC program (interactive building stations, playful materials, design challenges) will land every Friday through...
DRAW NYC pops up on 8th Street in the Village
Our pop-up drawing studio landed on 8th St in the Village for a NYC DOT Weekend Walk hosted by Village Alliance DMA. Thanks to our partner NYC DOT and Blick Art Materials. DRAW NYC is made possible at Weekend Walks in part with generous support from Lisa...
Founding Sponsors:
Fabiola Salmán
Betty Chen &
Peter Coombe
Laura & Robert
Fleder
Romy &
David Cohen
Karen & Dan
Taylor
Evgenia Peretz
