A Letter from Paul Ha, Director

Thanks to people in our community like you, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis is able to provide free art education programs that reach thousands of urban teens each year. These art education programs spark students’ imaginations and awaken in them a keen interest in learning about the world around them.

Unrestricted gifts to the Contemporary’s Annual Fund support the Contemporary’s youth education programs and help us continue to serve the children in our community who need us the most.

I know that there are many worthwhile organizations in our community, so let me take a moment to tell you why I believe that art education is so critical and deserving of your support. Art education isn’t about creating artists; it’s about discovering meaning and possibilities. I want to tell you about Cameron, one of the students reached by one of our education programs last year.

As Cameron grew up he found himself entangled in a lot of trouble, already serving time in jail before he was even 18. His senior year at Sumner High School got off to a bad start, as he skipped most of his classes. Most would think he had little promise of a successful future. Cameron was absent from his art class for weeks before deciding to join Mr. Ragsdale’s art class on the same day that docents and artists from the Contemporary’s ArtReach program visited. From that moment, things changed.

Learning something about himself and discovering his interest in art, Cameron asked a lot of questions. For the first time, he discovered ways to express his ideas and concerns. His attendance and grades improved, and Mr. Ragsdale watched Cameron transform from an irresponsible student to a self-described “sculptor.” For one project, Cameron constructed a sculpture of the Twin Towers atop of a collage alongside a poem he wrote. This project was displayed at the Contemporary in a special student exhibition last spring, where Cameron proudly talked about his work with parents, teachers and fellow students.

Inspired by Mr. Ragsdale’s encouragement and participation in the Contemporary ArtReach program, Cameron decided to take his love of art and his wish to share his inspiration with other kids to Harris-Stowe University, where he is now pursuing a degree that will allow him to work as an art teacher after he graduates. What an amazing turnaround for this student, and all because of his exposure to contemporary art.

Contemporary ArtReach is just one of several programs the Contemporary provides to disadvantaged youth in our community and Cameron is just one of our many success stories. We are pleased to report that 100% of students graduating from our New Art in the Neighborhood program the last two years have gone on to attend college – a rate that far exceeds their peers. We are also proud to collaborate with our Grand Center neighbor, Cardinal Ritter College Prep School, to provide an innovative art education program as part of their curriculum.

Many people know and love the Contemporary for our exhibitions and events but are not aware of all that we do to give back to kids in our community. We are the only visual arts institution in St. Louis providing this kind of comprehensive visual arts education to teens in the St. Louis Public High Schools. I hope you will agree that these outreach efforts are an important part of our mission of making St. Louis a better place for everyone to live and work.

Please consider a special contribution to the Contemporary’s Annual Fund this year. Your 100% tax-deductible contribution will be used to ensure that all of the St. Louis community can enjoy access to the museum and our exhibitions and education programs for the coming year. With your support, we can continue to use the power of contemporary art to create positive change in our community.

Please accept my deepest thanks for your special gift.

Sincerely,

Paul Ha

Director, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis