we reach out to you to ask you to participate in helping us continue and make better two spaces we run in the city, 

as DHARAVI ART ROOM, we have always utilized the medium of art to empower ourselves and children and women of communities we work with. we believe that exploring, expressing and exchanging ideas through art creates confidence and stimulates personal growth. ART ROOM promotes a unique and fun community participatory approach through art and photography workshops, story-telling, reading spaces and borrowing-libraries, self-publishing, exhibitions, etc., to explore life through art. past few years onwards we have also been giving scholarships and stipends to the elder kids so that they can continue their higher school and college studies. we have been running dharavi art room for about twenty four years now, from simpler activities in the earlier years to more wholesome commitment in the recent years.
why the physical space in Dharavi :

• because houses are tiny and the number of people staying in them are many
• the situation at home is mostly tense and depressing, so it is nicer to be able to get out of it even if it is for a few hours
• there aren’t many community spaces / gardens / parks
• also having a physical space allows us to have a central space within the community to co-ordinate multiple activities with the children and sometimes their parents too
• on a regular basis, about 120 children use the art room space and the borrowing library through the week

the other space, which is situated in a contrasting neighbourhood, Bandra, comprises of CHOTA GALLERY and the headquarters for CHOTA LIBRARY.
as the space is in a better part of the city, it will also help generate funds to sustain the art room activities, and reach different audiences.
about CHOTA GALLERY : a dedicated children’s art space, where the general public can come and see children’s feelings, their thoughts, their aspirations, their worries, remember we all were born artists, maybe we could still rewind, remind and reconnect,
about CHOTA LIBRARY :a community lending library, most kids here lack books in their homes nor do they have easy access to books elsewhere, for many families, taking care of basic needs will always win over buying books,  and whence this extends to good art, design, film, photography books, this situation even extends to the elders across different communitieswe have experienced access to knowledge is essential in the process of social mobility.
we also facilitate a few other smaller books distribution set-ups.

our library actively engage users as content creators, from reading publications to publishing independently

with both our spaces, we provide the space, tools and autonomy in which one experiments with what it means to live among one another as equal and free beings. we want everyone who pass our way to have the opportunity, at least during their time with us, to practice what it means to be equal and free. we decide we must do it together, day-to-day, thinking critically, speaking honestly, listening passionately, and acting as if we are, indeed, equal and free.

ever since our early beginnings in 1999, we have always run our community spaces pretty much independently, mostly through contributions from individuals and sales of our zines and books and similar ventures, but last few years have affected both the possibilities, the last three years especially were very difficult in terms of the funds situation, also because activities and responsibilities at the art room are increasing, hence we are reaching out to ask you to participate in taking this forward, would you like to contribute something towards helping with sustaining the spaces and costs around it,

--- 3,00,000 INR (12 x 25,000 INR per month) Art Room rent and maintenance costs for twelve months
--- 3,00,000 INR (12 x 25,000 INR per month) art room’s care-taker’s salary for twelve months

--- 9,00,000 INR (12 x 75,000 INR per month) rent and maintenance costs of the Chota Library headquaters / Chota Gallery/ storage space for twelve months

--- 3,60,000 INR (12 x 30,000 INR per month) space/library attendant’s salary for twelve months

--- 1,50,000 INR (4 x 30,000 INR per month) four exhibitions through the year

--- 1,80,000 INR (12 x 15,000 INR per month) monthly publications costs

--- 3,00,000 INR (12 x 25,000 INR per month) ongoing Educational Support Scholarships for Young Girls from Dharavi for twelve months

--- 3,00,000 INR (12 x 25,000 INR per month) Activity materials / art supplies expenses for twelve months

--- 1,80,000 INR (12 x 15,000 INR per month) monthly multiple picnics /outings

--- 30,000 INR emergency repairs and other miscellaneous expenses

in all we require 30,00,000 INR to secure the next twelve months