On November 15th and 22nd, The Children’s Gallery Chicago (TCGC) will bring joy, creativity, and community connection to North Lawndale through two free public art pop-ups at the Douglass Branch Library. These open-air art studios invite children and families to explore painting, color-mixing, and now, for the first time, clay sculpting!

After seeing the transformative power of art in our summer events, where kids made new friends, discovered confidence, and created masterpieces from emotion and instinct, we are expanding our materials to include self-hardening clay and sculpting tools. This new addition will help us reach youth who express themselves best through touch, movement, and hands-on creation.

The project includes everything needed to make sculpting safe, exciting, and accessible. We will provide clay, sculpting tools, table coverings, instruction cards, and guided lessons for children of all ages. After sculpting, youth will be invited to display their work inside the library for the community to admire.

These pop-ups are free to attend and open to the public. We are working with local schools, daycares, and neighborhood partners to spread the word.

While we do host pop-ups throughout the city, this grant would fund a specific new offering: two sculpture tables for November's pop-up at Douglass Branch Library, with all supplies of this addition attributed to the Awesome Foundation. With your support, we can bring a new kind of joy to the community shaped by little hands and big imaginations.