About MKAD, the Midtown Kingston Arts District

The DRAW Studio at Energy Square at Cedar Street/Iwo Jima Lane in Midtown Kingston features ongoing arts education, events and our Storefront Gallery.

Mission

To provide access and support for the arts to advance, engage, unite, and enrich a vibrant community in Midtown Kingston.

Vision

MKAD believes in the power of creative arts to be an agent of change. We serve the people of Midtown Kingston as a hub for collaborative relationships with individuals, artists, businesses, organizations and government to create positive change together.

Values

• Collaboration and Community Building
• Artistic Integrity and Personal Excellence
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
• Creative Growth and Innovation
• Midtown-centric

Meet the initiatives of the MKAD creative ecosystem:

Advocate
Educate
Celebrate

How we advocate

With advocacy we focus on creating fair and inclusive policies and practices that will cultivate and ensure equitable access to resources for the artist economy, as well as cultivating support for the arts and artists across business and public sectors.

Advocacy includes:

• Collaborate and liaise with local government
• Drive funding toward the arts
• Support and promote the artist economy
• Provide fiscal sponsorship to artists and other organizations
• Spearhead public campaigns to promote the arts
• Create opportunities to share artistic resources

Who we educate

We provide enrichment and skill-building through high-quality, accessible and affordable arts education for everyone, from beginners to working professionals. We help build agency and explore the creative process as well as create opportunities for intergenerational mentorships for legacy, continuity, and mutual inspiration

Educate includes:

• Accessible art classes through DRAW programming
• the Youth Workforce Program
• Awarding Scholarships to young artists and the community at large
• Public expositions and workshops
• Hosting Teaching Artists

What we celebrate

Through a series of events and promotions, we amplify the achievements of our artistic community and invite the public to engage and learn from it first hand. This direct support and connection is vital to Midtown Kingston.

Celebrate includes:

• Amplifying the arts through annual public events including Celebration of the Arts, DRAW-A-Thon, and Eco Arts Week
• Creation and distribution of the 1st Saturday Gallery Guide
• Insure recognition through the Todd Samara Art Fund Award and Red Goat
• Pop-up galleries bringing art to the people
• Collaborate with government and other organizations to increase audience ( The Dorsky Museum, TRANSART, City of Kingston, Ministry of Maȧt, Kingston Library, O+Festival, Radio Kingston, CCE, Midtown Business Alliance, SUNY Ulster, Eureka House, Bard Center for Curatorial Studies)