A person's hands manipulate shiny foil in the foreground, surrounded by colorful yarn in plastic bins and a tray of grey wool in the background.

Dear Community, A little over a year ago, Canaan Kids Artspace was an idea — a belief that kids in our community needed a place to play, imagine, and create on their own terms. Today, it's a room full of amazing kids’ creations, a waitlist that tells us we're not finished yet, and a community that has shown us, again and again, that this was exactly what our community needs. What We've Learned This YearWe set out to test whether there was really a need for a child-led creative space here. The answer came back louder than we expected. Our afterschool club has been consistently sold out, with a waitlist of families hoping for a spot, and our community events have drawn steady, enthusiastic crowds. Just as important, we've built trust: local organizations, families, and neighbors know who we are now, and believe in what we're doing. Why It's WorkingCommunity donations and grants let us pay our staff fairly and offer scholarships to every family who needed one — we have never turned a child away for lack of funds, and we intend to keep that promise. Our program itself is child-led and carefully scaffolded, stimulating imagination while flexing to fit many different children rather than asking them to fit into it. And our community shows up, donating supplies and materials that go directly into kids' hands. Our community is part of what we're building. What's NextThis first year taught us the need is real, and the appetite for what we're building is too. Now we get to answer it. The clearest next step is more space. Our waitlist tells us families want more than our current room can hold — we see that as a green light, not a limit. Our next chapter is finding our next home that lets us say yes to every family who wants in. What We're AskingOur first priority will never change: no child is turned away for financial reasons. That's the foundation of everything we do, and the first thing your gift protects. But our community also needs more than a program — it needs a place: a year-round, sustainable home where families can connect and thrive, built on the same child-led, creativity-first approach that already works. This year, we're asking you to help us build toward both: sustaining the scholarship fund that keeps our doors open to every family, and securing the space that will let the next phase of CKA take root. A gift of any size moves us closer. Thank you for believing in this idea when it was just an idea. Because of you, it's now a room full of kids making things, a waitlist of kids who want to, and a community that's better for it. We hope you'll help us build what's next. With gratitude,Breetel GravesExecutive Director, Canaan Kids Artspace TO MAKE YOUR GIFT:Sign up for a single or monthly donation or send a check to Canaan Kids Artspace.Mailing address: 33 Prospect St, Canaan CT 06018 About Canaan Kids Artspace Canaan Kids Artspace (CKA) is a nonprofit (EIN# 33-3001613) based in the heart of North Canaan, on a mission to spark creativity, nurture community, and promote environmental stewardship. Through a mix of structured and open-ended activities centered on upcycled materials, we inspire young creators to think sustainably, connect with others, and express themselves joyfully. We believe creativity is fundamental to being human, that it should be accessible to all, and that it should be made with care for the environment. Our approach emphasizes exploration, self-discovery, and the joy of creating itself, valuing the act of making over the final product.

Canaan Kids Artspace Inc

2026: Support Canaan Kids Artspace

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