Marwen educates and inspires under-served young people through the visual arts.
Organization:
Marwen is a not for profit organization (501-(C)3) founded in 1987
ANNUAL BUDGET: approximately $2.5 million
FULL TIME STAFF: 19
TEACHING ARTISTS: 70 per year
BOARD: 37 members
FUNDING SOURCES:
- individuals (30%)
- special events (29%)
- foundations (17%)
- corporations (10%)
- investment income (8%)
- earned income (4%)
- government grants (2%)
Programs we provide (after school and on weekends):
ART COURSES AND DISCIPLINES
- Painting
- Drawing
- Ceramics
- Sculpture
- Photography
- Time-based media
- Fashion and fiber
- Design arts
- Printmaking
- Interdisciplinary
COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAMS
- college and arts exploration study trips
- employment experiences and internships
- individual college counseling
- scholarships reserved exclusively for eligible Marwen students
- sustained support in college from alumni mentors and Marwen staff
THE MARWEN INSTITUTE
- Provides professional development for Marwen teaching artists
- Leads Marwen’s program evaluation and student assesment
- Coordinates participation in the broader arts education community
EXHIBITIONS
- 10+ exhibitions per year in 2 galleries
Student Course Information:
TYPICAL CLASS SIZE: 15
TEACHER/STUDENT RATIO: 1:8
TYPICAL COURSE DURATION: 2.5 hours per week for 8 week terms; 4 terms annually (summer term courses meet each weekday for 2 weeks)
People:
STUDENTS
- Between 700 and 800 Chicago students in grades 6–12 account for more than 2,400 enrollments each year
- From more than 200 different schools, the vast majority of which are Chicago Public Schools
- From 55 of Chicago’s 57 zip codes
- Almost 90% from households with incomes that are low to very low according to federal poverty guidlines
-
Racial and Ethnic Diversity:
° Hispanic/Latino (44%)
° African-American/Black (29%)
° Caucasian/White (13%)
° Multi-ethnic (7%)
° Asian/Pacific Islander (6%)
° Native American/Alaskan Native (1%)
ALUMNI
-
Hundreds of alumni are actively involved as
° teaching artists and assistants
° exhibition artists or curators
° mentors to recent graduates
° donors and volunteers
- 91% of Marwen seniors in the class of 2011 were accepted to college
- The class of 2011 currently attends around 35 schools nationwide
ARTISTS
- Paid employment as teaching artists and assistant teaching artists
- Exhibition opportunities
- Professional development opportunities
FAMILIES
- Marwen families receive support and resources to help navigate the process of applying for and enrolling in college
- Families and students receive personalized support as they choose Marwen courses and workshops
- More than 300 families supported Marwen with over $10,000 in voluntary donations in 2011
(Figures based on 2011 statistics.)