Artshack Brooklyn is a non-profit community ceramics studio. We provide classes, workshops, after school, and memberships for all ages and abilities. Our community programs—such as Scholarships, Community Day, Keepsake Gallery, the Artist Residency program, and free & subsidized classes for Bed Stuy youth and seniors—rely on your support!

Our Mission

We believe in the healing powers of clay!

Our mission is to make ceramic arts more accessible to people of all abilities and ages.  We provide scholarships to at least a quarter of the kids in our afterschool, hold regular free community days for local residents, offer free and subsidized ceramics classes to local low income high school students, seniors, and adults with special needs.  Artshack is developing accountability as an anti-racist, queer-affirming organization that celebrates the creativity of youth and honors people of all abilities.

Our History

Artshack was originally started by McKendree Key in 2008 as a very small, artist run program offering art classes in a Brooklyn backyard.  In 2016, McKendree Key & her former co-director established Artshack as a 501c-3 organization focusing on ceramics and moved to 1131 Bedford Avenue.  In the fall of 2019 Artshack began working with The Human Root, a community development organization.

Through this process, we have identified the following goals:

  • We want Anti Racism Practices incorporated in organizational development by developing a committed anti-bias development plan that is measurable and trackable.
  • We want Racial Equity Practices in programming: We want diversity equity and inclusion in public programming designed to impact socio-economic and racial disparities related to education, art, and engagement/membership opportunities.
  • We Want ArtShack to Hire Black and Brown educators for programming in spaces that participants a majority black and brown youth.
  • ArtShack Board of Directors should reflect equity, diversity and inclusion through its recruitment, education and intention.  We seek representation of Historically Black BedStuy/Clinton Hill.

Our Impact Work

Within the last year, Artshack has made ceramic arts more accessible to Brooklyn residents:

  • 900+ local public school students enjoyed fully subsidized ceramics classes.
  • 126 Black & Brown adult residents received full scholarships for classes.
  • 10 free-to-the-public Community Clay Days reached nearly 500 Bed-Stuy residents.
  • Provided 10 classes for Blind & Visually Impaired Seniors
  • 5 Artists-in-Residence produced work, showcased it in the Keepsake Gallery, and taught at Community Clay Days.
  • 80 students enjoyed full scholarships to our after-school program and holiday/summer camps.
  • Students from Bedford Academy High School, a local high-performing Title 1 school, attended a weekly ceramics class, which is their only access to visual arts.

Board of Directors

We envision a community art space that contributes to a vibrant and equitable Bed Stuy. As Board of Directors we achieve this by holding space for creativity, collaboration, and supporting artists. As an organization we utilize the arts to create awareness and connection.

Aurora Rosado Lazzaro
Becca Green
Beverley Watson
Dave Kim
Jason Shure
Lam Thuy Vo
McKendree Key
Founder & Director
Shaun Leonardo
Tiana Grimes-Wolfe

Studio Staff

Alva Calymayor
Director of Youth & Gallery Programs
Angeli Rasbury
Community Outreach Liaison
Atlas Thomas
Studio Manager, Adult Programs
Braden Macdonald
Event Coordinator
Cameo Brown
Director of Development
Jon Wang
Studio and Maintenance Technician
Katie Malnati
Membership Manager & Community Outreach
Kemi Schleicher
Studio Manager, Adult Programs
McKendree Key
Founder & Director
Michael Dajour
Cafe Manager
Olivia Bartlett
Youth Program Administrator
Quinn McNeill
Director of Operations
Silvia Barban
Chef

Adult Class Teachers

Alayna Wiley
Atlas Thomas
Studio Manager, Adult Programs
Braden Macdonald
Event Coordinator
Camila Ruiz
Carlos Lara
Christopher Combemale
Cody Moorefield
Ivan Samuels
Jon Wang
Studio and Maintenance Technician
Katie Malnati
Membership Manager & Community Outreach
Lam Thuy Vo
Octavio Yattah

Youth & Teen Class Teachers

Alayna Wiley
Alina Patrick
Alva Calymayor
Director of Youth & Gallery Programs
Anastasia Corrine
Angeli Rasbury
Community Outreach Liaison
Dana Barnes
Jessika Stocker
Tahnee Panting
Whitney Chandler