- Home
- Rising Artists
Invest in the Next Generation of Creative Leaders
Every artist starts somewhere. A first opportunity. A first mentor. A first paycheck. A first moment of realizing that creativity can become a career.
The Rising Artist Fund powers those moments.
For 30 years, 1001 Colors has helped young people turn creativity into opportunity. Through paid employment, mentorship, professional development, and hands-on artistic experiences, we help emerging artists transform their talent into confidence, income, and lasting career pathways.
Your support fuels programs that employ and develop more than 200 young artists each year through Apprenticeships, Gallery Fellowships, and Creative Studios. Participants gain real-world experience, build professional portfolios, earn income, strengthen leadership skills, and contribute meaningful work that shapes our city.
These aren't simulated experiences or classroom exercises. They are real opportunities within a real creative economy, where young artists learn by doing, work alongside professional mentors, and develop the skills needed to succeed in the arts and beyond.
1001 Colors creates Bold Art that Builds Bright Futures. Invest in a Rising Artist today and help unlock the potential of our youth, creating opportunities that inspire creativity, build confidence, and transform futures.
Your Dollars at Work
Every gift to the Rising Artist Fund creates real opportunities for young people to learn, earn, and grow. Whether you're providing essential art supplies, funding career readiness training, or supporting a paid apprenticeship, your generosity directly invests in the success of emerging artists.
From a $10 hard hat to a summer apprentice salary, every dollar helps remove barriers, unlock potential, and create pathways to brighter futures. Explore how your support makes an impact:
Supporting Young Artists
- $100 provides safety training and uniforms for Apprentices.
- $500 helps provide career readiness training, including financial literacy, technology skills, portfolio development, and professional writing.
- $1,000 helps employ under-resourced youth through community-driven public art projects.
- $2,300 supports the salary of one Summer Youth Apprentice.
Supporting Creative Projects
- $10 provides a hard hat for a mural artist.
- $25 covers a pack of painter's tape.
- $50 provides a set of paint rollers.
- $100 covers the average cost of a gallon of paint.
- $500 helps fund community engagement sessions and project materials.
- $1,000 supports protective coatings, brushes, and painting supplies.
- $5,000 covers wall preparation for large mural sites.
Investing in Program Leadership
- $7,400 supports the salary of one Summer Apprentice program Teaching Artist.
- $11,600 supports the salary of one Summer Apprentice program Lead Teaching Artist.
Give Your Way
Every gift to the Rising Artist Fund helps young artists gain access to the opportunities, mentorship, and professional experiences that can shape a lifetime.
A one-time gift provides immediate support for paid apprenticeships, teaching artists, professional development, art supplies, public art projects, and community-based creative experiences. Whether you give $25 or fund an entire apprenticeship, your contribution directly impacts the next generation of creative leaders.
Looking to create lasting impact? Monthly giving provides reliable, year-round support that helps 1001 Colors invest in young artists at every stage of their journey. Even modest monthly gifts can make a meaningful difference, helping provide safety equipment, project materials, mentorship, and career readiness training.
Together, one-time and monthly donors make it possible for more than 200 young artists each year to learn, earn, create, and build brighter futures through art.
Interested in offline donation options visit our Ways to Give page for info on the many ways you can support rising artists!
Help Build the Next 30 Years
For three decades, 1001 Colors has transformed lives through creativity, mentorship, workforce development, and public art.
The next generation of artists is already here. They have the talent. They have the vision. They have the potential.
What they need is opportunity.
Together, we can ensure young artists have access to paid creative work, professional mentors, meaningful experiences, and pathways to a career.
Join us in building a creative economy powered by opportunity.
More Artist Stories
Behind every mural, exhibition, and creative project is a young person discovering their potential.
Our Rising Artist stories showcase the impact of mentorship, paid creative work, and professional development on the lives of emerging artists. From first jobs to first gallery exhibitions, these stories demonstrate how access, opportunity, and support can change a trajectory.