how we "make" a difference

Our core purpose is in large part to empower people groups in all communities to come together with the common bond of creativity.  We know that  people are in need of a healing environment to share their lives with others or a space to safely be the creation God has made in us.  We also know that it helps to enable community by providing a space for it to happen.  At MAKE, we want to share our space and gifts to help make that possible.  
MAKE is actively partnering with several non-profit ministries in the RVA area to provide camps, classes, studio space and workshops to those in need at no cost.  We are always actively seeking organizations, ministries or non-profits that are interested in experiencing MAKE Creative Studio and volunteers to help "make" it happen.    

community partners:
who we are

imago dei
neighborhood school

Make partners with Imago Dei Neighborhood School twice each week for students. The studio works with the Imago Dei team to integrate academics with age appropriate art experiences. A particular focus is on globally diverse artists, tools and styles. Make serves students in Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade from the diverse and culturally rich Northside RVA neighborhood.

children's garden preschool

We are excited to add a new partner to our ministry in local preschools - Children's Garden Preschool!  Studio 123, our preschool art program will look forward to adding CGP to their programming.  CGP is housed at St. Giles Church and reaches many students and their families in the church neighborhood and beyond with their Christ-centered, developmentally appropriate curriculum.  We can't wait to get started this fall with this community of little makers!
For more information on CGP, click the logo.

Art and recovery:
into the neighborhood

Art and Recovery is Make Creative Studio's anchor outreach to the recovery community in the Richmond area.  In partnership with Into The Neighborhood, Make seeks to provide a place where people in recovery can withdraw from the pressures of recovery from addiction and take a moment to create using the resources of the studio.  Art and Recovery Nights find 12-15 women breaking bread together and creating art geared towards their recovery with Art Therapist Elizabeth King, ATR-BC, LPC.  If you are interested in having your Recovery Group participate in an Art and Recovery Night, please contact Angie Cooke, Director, at angie@makestudiorva.com .

Art and recovery:
​mcShin FOundation

Make Studio works weekly on Mondays from 9-10 a.m. and 11 a.m. -12 p.m. with the McShin Foundation in the Studio to host Art and Recovery Women's Groups and Men's Groups. Participants join together in creating uplifting and encouraging art projects under the leadership of our Art Therapist, Elizabeth King AT-BC, LPC.  Each gathering is created specifically for women or men in recovery and focuses on providing time together to share, contemplate and create in a therapeutic atmosphere.  The studio provides all materials for each project made and seeks to use recycled and donated materials whenever possible.  If you are interested in volunteering with the McShin Foundation Groups at Make Studio, please contact Angie Cooke at angie@makestudiorva.com.

Youth Life Foundation of Richmond

On select Friday afternoons, Make Creative Studio welcomes the children from Youth Life Foundation of Richmond for their Friday Fun Days After School Activities.  YLFR is a faith-based, academic-focused, after-school program for youth in under-resourced parts of Richmond, Virginia. They operate Learning Centers to develop leaders by making long-term investments in children from under-resourced communities.  We are excited to partner with this incredible organization to help bring the healing power of our Creator to children. If you are interested in volunteering with Youth Life Foundation at Make Studio, please contact Angie Cooke at angie@makestudiorva.com.

Patty's Hope

Several times a year we welcome women and volunteers from the organization Patty's Hope.  Make seeks to provide a place where people in need of the healing power of our Creator can withdraw from the pressures of life and take a moment to create using the resources of the studio.  Patty's Hope Art Nights find 12-15 women breaking bread together and creating art geared towards healing with Art Therapist Elizabeth King, ATR-BC, LPC.  Patty's Hope is a small non-profit in Richmond, Virginia that focuses on supporting biological mothers whose children have been removed from their custody and placed in foster care.  The program focuses on 4 Key Areas: Safe Housing, Trauma Care, Healthy Community and Life Skills. If you are interested in volunteering with Patty's Hope at Make Studio, please contact Angie Cooke at angie@makestudiorva.com.

More partners: