SPLASH - a Youth Arts Workshop - is a grassroots non-profit that creates a safe place for youth housed in a professional art studio environment where young artists, k-12, including urban, rural, low-income and disadvantaged at-risk youth can grow and express themselves through the fine arts. SPLASH Director and Co-Founder, Artist Charlie Newton was inspired by the ancient proverb "Your gift will
make room for you". With the assistance of fellow artist and wife Iantha Newton and the support and volunteerism of a small family of friends from the local community, SPLASH was borne as a contributing solution to the problems of vandalism, gang membership and unsafe streets
One of our targetted areas is that of the Chattanooga Housing Authority's College Hill Courts and surrounding CHA's apartments collectively termed the 'Westside Apartments' . Our continuing mission includes the following:
1. Nurture, develop, and encourage young artists to use their gifts and talents in pursuit of their dreams of becoming artists through professional training, mentor and apprentice programs, art classes, workshops and activities.
2. Develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills whilst fostering self-esteem through student and professional art exhibitions which also provide real world experience for youth artist to demonstrate, display and sell their artwork. The youth to retain 75% of sales.
3. Expose local community to various forms and styles of art and invited artists. Provide exhibition and performance space for community art events and promote the arts in Chattanooga to a diverse audience.
4. Outreach to schools, churches, recreation centers and other community gathering places with fine arts enrichment programming.
