The Dharavi Art Room utilizes the medium of art to empower children and women of marginalized communities. We believe that exploring, expressing and exchanging ideas through art creates confidence and stimulates personal growth. The Art Room promotes a unique and fun community participatory approach which enables the community to take control over their lives.

The absence of positive educational and extracurricular activities for children in marginalized communities leads to lack of safe spaces and resources with which to explore personal and neighbourhood issues through artistic mediums. This narrows exposure and communication between groups in society, perpetuating negative stereotypes and constraining opportunities to shape one’s life.

What better way of promoting the mission of the Dharavi Art Room than through Printmaking? Printmaking, being the process of creating multiples, has a long history of making art accessible to all and spreading it to the masses. During our upcoming project, children from the Art Room will be able to explore print making and use these techniques as a form of self-expression to share their own thoughts and stories. Each child will learn about the printmaking processes, explore mono-printing and create their own original linoleum relief prints that will result in a group exhibition. We are also hoping to put together a book documenting the workshop and the artwork created during this project.

This project will be facilitated by Matthew Braun. Matt is a printmaker and art activist from the United States of America. Art is a valuable tool for people to express themselves and share their voices with others. Matt is passionate about promoting art within the community and making it accessible to all.

We are looking for support to help fund this project. We would like to assemble printmaking kits for the Dharavi Art Room which would include linoleum plates, water based inks, carving tools, brayers and other materials for the workshop. As well as helping with space costs, funds will also be used to help support a group art show where the children will be able to exhibit their artwork.

Art is a form of empowerment, solidarity and a means to find peace in this world. We humbly thank you for your interest in our work. As a token of our appreciation we are offering a hand printed postcard to donors upon request.

You can see more about our work at www.artroom.strikingly.com or find us  on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.