Art Supply Drive 2016 In August 2013, Doongalik Studios Art Gallery and The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas launched an annual community service initiative aimed at bridging the financial gap for art students attending government high schools in the country. Recent conversations with art educators had revealed that due to the high cost of materials, students were opting out of art courses or attending classes without even the most rudimentary supplies.

In a country with a burgeoning art community and wealth of talent, this deficit was begging to be addressed. With the establishment of the Art Supply Drive, the galleries intend to relieve a portion of the burden and facilitate the students’ creative expression. During the back-to-school season, the galleries collect new or gently-used art supplies, as well as monetary donations, and present supplies to three schools (a junior and senior high school on New Providence and a family island school).

At the end of the school year, students from the three schools present the best of their artwork for an exhibition at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. This year’s presentation is comprised of the student work of C V Bethel Senior High School, T A Thompson Junior High School and Old Bight High School in Cat Island. We are pleased to again offer selected works for sale with proceeds going equally to the individual artists, the schools’ art departments and Art Supply Drive’s ongoing fundraising campaign.

With such a dearth of materials in the classroom, even a nominal contribution of an eraser or art pencil can have a profound impact. While the demand for art supplies is greater than the initiative can currently provide, ASD hopes to send materials throughout the entire archipelago to support the next generation of Bahamian visual artists in the country. Your involvement can help us put a paintbrush in a child’s hand.

You can help us DRIVE THE DREAM.