post by Art Teacher Jeff Kilpatrick
This week, I showed a presentation to the Philly CORE Leaders in City Hall's City Council Caucus room. I talked about my student artists at Memphis Street Academy Charter School and did a 3-minute pitch for a program called Philly ARTrepreneurs.
Philly ARTrepreneurs was grown from an idea I've had for the kids when I first started teaching at Memphis Street (back when we started the school in 2012). The kids there have grown so much. The academic and behavioral
progress they have made is mind-blowing. My students are my heroes. I
say it all the time.
When I show students my own work (my t-shirt designs, comics, anthologies, and
art for shows), they always ask me how they can do it too. Now with this SEED
grant, I will be able to show them. In the next few months, we will be
outfitting my art room with professional equipment and programs so I can
show students how to design their own shirts and create their own books
and prints. I will also teach students about marketing and shipping
their creations.
The proceeds from the products sold will be split three ways - 1/3 will
go to a charity of the student designer's choice. 1/3 will go to the
student in some form of scholarship. 1/3 will fold back into the ARTrepreneurs program to keep it moving forward for other students.
I am blessed every day to have this job and work with these kids. I
can't wait to walk them through this experience of getting their work
out into the world to a wide audience. Please stay tuned for updates
over the next few months.
Please CLICK HERE to read the Newsworks article regarding the SEED 4.0 event.
