MORE art-making for everyone!

Harbor Creative Arts is a children's art studio in North Kingstown, Rhode Island providing arts programming for ages 2-12. The studio has been located at 7592 Post Road for two years, having DIY updated the space and resourcefully used furniture and materials in as many ways as was possible. The post-Covid surge in enrollment and interest in the studio has created a great need for re-allocation and upgrade of the space.

Through art, Harbor Creative Arts builds confidence and empathy in children and provides community and support for all types of families. Harbor Creative Arts fulfills the incredible need and demand for art classes and arts based programming in the area. Art classes explore drawing, painting, and collage with mixed-media based techniques and a balance of skill-based and open-ended projects and themes. Little Artists classes for toddlers, afterschool art classes, a wide array of weekend workshops, and a unique outdoor creative exploration space all incorporate sensory experiences, collaboration, and independent problem solving. Special family events, seasonal celebrations, and integrated advocacy events provide special opportunities for families to spend quality time together, learn more about their neighbors and classmates, and find out how about important current issues impacting their community and support important causes and organizations.

About the renovation project:

Prior to August, the 1500 square foot studio space had only two small walls. Those walls divided the space in two, making one half the art room while the other side could not be put to best use despite trying many configurations over the past two years.  After two years of being in our space, we have a great plan to make fantastic use of the space! The finished studio will be incredibly efficient and inspiring for staff, programs, children, and families to learn, create, and teach in the studio. 

All funds from this campaign will go toward the upgrades in the studio. 

The early funding raised here in July provided HCA with the cash on hand to put forth the deposit on the project. Thank you for that!! Additional funding we raise here in August offsets the SBA loan we have obtained (and are waiting on) because it not only allows us to complete the renovation project in the BEST way possible and on time, it also creates a domino effect for our small business, positively impacting our ability to increase staff hours, hire new staff, expand programming (including more music & STEAM offerings), increase class capacity numbers (we are known for waitlists), and quickly return to hosting an HCA specialty- community events that benefit local non-profit organizations and causes.

The studio renovation includes:

• taking down two non-load bearing walls 
• building a large storage closet
• adding walls to create an office and a multipurpose flexible meeting room
• constructing a more suitable work space for older students
• delegating an area of the studio to toddler classes and activities
• installing more cabinets and storage
• creating teacher preparation areas
• adding another sink for hand-washing
• establishing a dedicated rug area with bench seating
• upgrading the lighting 
• installing sound barrier in the ceiling to distribute the sound better
• forming an entry way and waiting area
• extending and completing the vinyl floor 
• introducing a special multi-purpose area for community needs such as parent work stations, parent hide-out for children with special needs who cannot be left on their own, homework area for students, small group meetings, a gallery room, merchandise sale area, and more.
• adding an additional exterior door that will create easy access to HCA Outside

In celebration of this project and the growth of the studio we have upgraded our logo by collaborating with local artist Jessica McGuirl of First Pancake Studio. This incredible design is featured on the special edition merchandise HCA is selling to generate revenue for the renovation! HCA also held a Pre-Payment campaign in June in which HCA families paid an astounding (and incredibly motivating) collective $5000 upfront for studio credit to be used for future classes.

We hope that this fundraising platform provides a way for you and many others who support the arts, art education, and Rachel Armentano to contribute to this impactful, growing small business!

Thank you for taking part from nearby and from afar! We appreciate each and every contribution. Community, trust, and support are truly the heart of Harbor Creative Arts and Rachel's vision for this unique studio space and program. 

For more about the Harbor Creative Arts story click here.

About Harbor Creative Arts founder and owner Rachel Armentano:

Rachel Armentano is a professional art educator with 20 years of teaching experience in schools, museums, and beyond, merged with a dedication to public programming and community involvement. Opportunities beyond the classroom have added incredible breadth to her career.  Her professional experiences also include community arts program management, curriculum development, professional development facilitation, and multiple invitations to be a guest teaching artist, panelist, and conference presenter. 

Originally from Massachusetts, Rachel now resides in beautiful Rhode Island with her husband Bob and their children, Daphne who is almost 8 years old, and Tate who is almost 6 years old. 

The foundation of Rachel's education includes a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art from Skidmore College, with a focus on fiber arts and painting and minors in anthropology and art history, as well as a Masters of Arts in Teaching in Art Education from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 

Rachel was awarded 2015 Rhode Island Middle School Art Educator of the year by Rhode Island Art Education Association while teaching at Rocky Hill Country Day School in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Additionally she has earned certificates in: 

• Ghanaian Arts and Culture from the School for International Training
• Project Based Learning from the Highlander Institute in Providence
• Social Emotional Academic Learning strategies and implementation with Developmental Designs/The Origins Program
• Arts Integration and art-based special education practices from the Power of Learning program hosted by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and the Lab School of Washington

Her involvement in the Rhode Island community has included Amenity Aid, Help the Homeless RI, Rising Tide Society, North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce, Center for Women and Enterprise, SCORE Rhode Island, North Kingstown Food Pantry, North Kingstown Parents as Teachers, Towards an Anti Racist North Kingstown, We Are ALL Readers diverse children's literature festival, Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, Moms Demand Action, One Gun Gone, The Womxn Project Educational Fund, and more.