Over the past four years, I’ve been immersed in a practice of building what I see as a form of social sculpture—a public art project in the shape of Mess Arts, the youth-centered nonprofit I founded in 2021. Rather than creating static objects, this work has focused on crafting experience, relationships, and growth within the community.
Mess Arts is a New Orleans visual arts program with a special focus on youth leadership, safe spaces, and community. We aim to create a space where youth are not only artists, but also stakeholders in the program itself. At Mess Arts the young artists can actualize their wackiest ideas in a safe and supportive environment.
Mess Arts Milestones!
Program Growth:
Since 2021 the program has scaled by over 1,000% annually, growing from a backyard initiative to a full-scale community arts organization. We strive to continue to provide accessible programming for youth ages 5-12, in 2025 we were able to scholarship 25% of our camp participants with full scholarships.
Youth Leadership Opportunities:
In 2024, we hosted our inaugural Kids Art Market, Underwater Taco Cat, a vibrant event showcasing the creativity of our youngest community members. Curated by Harper (8) and Clara (11), the market empowered kids to take leadership roles in the arts, highlighting their voices and ideas in a playful and imaginative way. Alongside this, Mess Arts presented InnerWorld at The Front Gallery, a thought-provoking show that explored themes of identity and self-expression. This exhibition was a major success, receiving critical acclaim and earning a feature in Frieze Magazine, spotlighting the impactful work of our organization and community.
Yearly Programming:
We have designed and facilitated programming that annually serves over 350 young people, including youth with different abilities. Provided summer, winter, and single day camps, as well as open studios, and community art nights to the community at large. Our summer camp provides childcare and art expression to over 80 young artists.
Fundraising and Annual Budgets:
We have grown to secure and manage an annual operating budget of $100,000 through events, grants, individual donations, and community partnerships. We host two annual fundraisers- our spring gala which is attended by 350 people and has raised 35,000 each year as well as our Single Parents Scholarship Fund, an intimate night raising money for our scholarship fund specifically for single parents.
Single Parent Scholarship Fund
In 2024, we launched the Single Parent Fund—a scholarship program created specifically to support single-parent households in New Orleans (which make up nearly 50% of households in the city). Through deep conversations with families and community members, we learned that many single parents lacked both childcare support and financial resources. In response, we established this fund to directly address those needs. This initiative helps ensure that families of all structures and backgrounds can participate in our programming, reducing financial barriers to creative education.
That year, we raised enough to provide six full-year scholarships for children from single-parent households with limited resources.