ARAD Holiday Service Project 2021

Since 2015, the Arts Administration Program (ARAD) at Teachers College, Columbia University has organized an annual Holiday Service Project for its faculty, students, staff, and alumni to contribute time, goods, and cheer to those in need during the winter holidays. This year, we had the pleasure of continuing our partnership with local arts organization, Art Start, providing 50 toy packages and holiday cards to over 170 children in NYC.

Aside from ARAD’s long-standing and continued support of Art Start, a non-profit organization that brings arts programming to at-risk youth living in city shelters, on the streets, or surviving with parents in crisis, we are excited to announce our efforts will also benefit the People’s Theatre Project.

Rooted in Washington Heights, People’s Theatre Project (PTP) creates ensemble-based theatre with Latinx, Black, and immigrant communities to strengthen the movement for social justice. Core programming includes: the PTP Academy, a multi-year theatre and social justice leadership program dedicated to the holistic development of immigrant youth (grades K-12); the PTP Partnerships, in-school theatre residencies focused on celebrating culture and identity; and the PTP Company, a touring company composed entirely of immigrant artists of color. Through these programs, PTP participants, artists, and audiences deepen their sense of power and strengthen their connection to community, reimagining a more equitable world.

This winter, PTP is raising full scholarships for the young artists in the PTP Academy.

  • Your gift of $25 sponsors the cost of a K-5 young artist’s tuition for one day.
  • Your gift of $50 sponsors the cost of admission for a family to see their young artist perform.
  • Your gift of $100 sponsors the cost of art supplies for a whole ensemble.
  • Your gift of $500 sponsors half the cost of a K-5 child’s tuition for a semester.
  • Your gift of $1000 sponsors the cost of a middle school/high school young artist’s tuition for a semester.

All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law, and will be accepted through Monday, January 3, 2022. You can donate using the form on this page. Sign up for the People’s Theater Project mailing list by texting PTPSIGNUP to 41444!

Donations made by check should be mailed to Teachers College, Columbia University, Attention: ARAD Alumni Programming Fund, Box 306, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027-9988. Checks should be made payable to Teachers College, Columbia University, and in the memo field, please include “Alumni programming: ARAD.”

Thank you for helping us make the holidays brighter by providing the tools and access to creative self-expression through the arts! Please contact Grace J. Choi at artsadmin@tc.columbia.edu with any questions.