DWSA students hold the annual Paint Night Fundraiser to help raise money for the Visual Arts Program

On October 17, 2024, Visual Arts students at Denzel Washington School of the Arts facilitated their annual Paint Night fundraiser to raise money for the program. With a $20 donation, families and friends were invited to spend the night painting a beautiful landscape with one another and enjoy soft jazz tunes played by one of the students, Alicia Hall. 

“I feel like Visual Arts does not get as much recognition as we should,” said Alicia, an 11th grader and Visual Arts major at DWSA. “It's an art that needs more attention and care.”

The purpose of the night’s activities was to raise funds for the Visual Arts Program, so that they could go on important and engaging field trips that help further their knowledge of visual arts. In the past, students visited the New York Botanical Gardens and museums throughout the year. These field trips are crucial for students interested in furthering their visual arts skills in painting, sculpting and other forms of media. 

“We’re inviting people from the community to come and sit with us, have snacks, and support the school’s art program,” said Layla Jackson, a 12th grader and visual artist at DWSA, who led the night’s event alongside 12th grader Aniyah Ramsey and 11th grader Nashelee Pena, while Alicia Hall provided the guests with music. “Tonight, I will be instructing and calling cues on the microphone as people follow along with the live painting.”

Students were involved in all areas of this program, from leading and calling out instructions, to DJing, to live painting and helping guests throughout the night. Students even worked the concessions table, selling small treats and refreshments for $2. There was an opportunity for parents and friends to purchase prints of artworks the Visual Arts students have produced.