Tioga Arts Council (TAC) is pleased to announce that Floyd Hooker Fund graciously awarded $3,650 to support its annual Art a la Carte program this summer!

2023 Partner Sites + Activities

The partner Summer Meals Sites for 2023 Art a la Carte are at Berkshire, Richford, Tioga Center, and Waverly. (Site selection is based on 1) US Census Data; 2) Recommendations from Tioga County Food for Families; 3) Each Site’s Willingness to Partner.

Weekly arts-enrichment activities will occur at each site between July and August 2023. Activities will focus on following the following artists and art forms:

  • Alma Thomas

  • Inuit Animals

  • Henri Matisse

  • Jean-Michel Basquiat

  • Artist Trading Cards

A SPECIAL THANKS TO

  • Floyd Hooker Fund

  • Jessica Petrylak

  • Sarah Reid

  • Riverow Bookshop

About Art a la Carte

Three years ago, Tioga County Food for Families (formerly, Tioga County Anti-Hunger Task Force) approached TAC and inquired about partnering to provide arts programming at a Summer Meal Site. According to their data, “Of the 52% of school age children in Tioga County [that] are eligible for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, less than 10% attended a Summer Meal Site.” By providing an arts activity, TAC would help encourage families to visit a Summer Meal Site for a positive experience while also accessing a critical service. As a result, TAC developed Art a la Carte.

Goals of Art a la Carte

Partner to Help Address Critical Community Need

According to the Tioga County Food for Families, approximately 25% of youth in Tioga County suffer from food insecurity and hunger. (This number likely increased since the onset of COVID-19.) Offering art activities encourages families to attend Summer Meals Sites and to access a critical food service.

Promote Arts & Literacy

Each year, TAC develops five, weekly arts-enrichment activities for approximately 30 children per site and expose them to a variety of artists, art techniques, and media. With assistance from professional artists and librarians, we also try to pair each activity with a companion book to enrich the learning experience.

Contribute to Community Revitalization

Through Art a la Carte, TAC helps to promote physical and creative well-being, champion the arts and literacy, and bring services to underserved parts of our county.   

A special thanks to The Floyd Hooker Fund

for making this year’s program possible!