Hands On! Children’s Art Museum of Chicago (Hands On!) ) is an 501(c),(3) nonprofit organization. The Hands On! was established to provide quality arts programming for all children. It also aims to educate and inspire children through the arts. We will offer a dynamic and ever-evolving program. Our programs will include fine arts, but we are primarily focused on visual art. Many activities can be enjoyed at-your-own pace and are open to everyone. The Museum will be staffed with working artists. All structured activities will be led and directed by master artist-teachers.
The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and the Arts Education Partnership started a study last summer to examine the impact arts experiences have on young people. It also explored why and how arts experiences can change young people. Research shows that children with high levels in arts participation are significantly more successful than those who are ‘arts-poor’. Champions of Change examined the evidence and found that arts participation can lead to positive habits that will help other disciplines. It also has the ability to reach students at high-risk when other disciplines are not. The arts offer young people authentic learning experiences that engage their hearts, minds, and bodies. Arts education can help students learn. It can increase creativity, self-discipline and give them the confidence to face the challenges they will face in their lives.
These three mothers, who are all mothers of young children themselves, are uniquely qualified for this project. Karolyn KUEHNER, Executive Director, has a Bachelor of Music degree (Piano Pedagogy) and a Master of Music degree (Piano Performance and Pedagogy), both with the highest honors, from Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. Additionally, she was a Roosevelt University Lecturer for Piano for over ten years. She also served on the Concordia University and Elmhurst College piano faculties. Ms. Kuehner received the D.H. Baldwin Fellowship in recognition of her contributions to piano pedagogy and is listed in the book, Who’s Who in American Music. Ms. Kuehner has been an active Brownie Troop leader for the Girl Scouts of Chicago, and she is a proponent of homeschooling. She was a guest of Educate! On Channel 20 and Medill Reports from Northwestern University. Interviews with Mrs. Kuehner appear in Chicago Parent and Homeschooling Link.
Sheri Jendra is the Operations Director. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and a Master of Public Administration from Governors State University. She was previously the Beverly Area Planning Association’s Housing director, a non profit community organization. She also served as the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission’s Assistant Planner. Ms. Jendra is active as a volunteer in many capacities at St. Barnabas Catholic Church and Elementary School, and in a variety of youth sports activities.
Nancy McGourty (Marketing Director) holds a Bachelor of Science, Commerce degree with major in Marketing from DePaul University. Prior employment included the positions of Assistant Vice President/Marketing for Founders Bank, Economic Director for the Beverly Area Planning Association and Marketing Officer within the Corporate and Institutional Banking section at First Chicago Bank. Ms. McGourty is active in the Beverly/Morgan Park community as a director of the Southwest Beverly Improvement Association, and as a volunteer at Sutherland Elementary School, St. Barnabas Catholic Church, and the AYSO.
Our Board of Directors includes the original board members as well as a variety of people, including Ramsey Lewis, Grammy-winning composer and pianist, Michael Friedman (CEO of Premonition Records), James Lindsey (CPA with TTX Company), and Paul Tuminaro – a Chicago-based arts advocate who is a member of the NewGroup Board at Museum of Contemporary Art.
We are seeking funding to fund the initial start-up costs. These include legal costs and leasehold improvements, rent, and related expenses.
We estimate that approximately 60% hands on!’s annual revenue comes from a combination of admissions, programming, memberships, and other related activities. The remainder of our funding will be generated by:
- Writing proposals to secure grants
foundations.
Objectives
Hands on!‘s goals during the first year are:
- To generate earned revenue from a combination of membership and admission fees, programming, outreach, retail sales, and special events.
- To obtain new funding sources such as foundation grants, government grant, private and corporate donations.
- To have 375 total paying memberships.
- Our outreach programs are designed to reach 1,500 children.
Mission
hands on! aims to help children of all age develop their creative potential through visual and performing arts. Hands-On! seeks to create an environment where children of all ages, abilities and experiences can freely imagine, create and welcome the arts to their lives through the fine arts. Hands-On! creates a work environment that is creative, challenging, rewarding and respectful of individuals and ideas.
Keys to Success
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