BATON ROUGE — The capital district is getting a little more colorful, all with the help of a new “little art library.” This brand new addition is tucked away just outside the “Walls Project” headquarters in Baton Rouge.
“It’s really open to the community and whatever you want to do with it,” said project manager Samantha Morgan.
Morgan says the goal is to help provide art supplies to those in need.
“It’s not something that’s cheap and not many people can afford it, but we all have creativity and we all have energy. We all have passion, and why couldn’t you not pursue a career in the arts? just because you can’t afford it? said Morgan. “Why shouldn’t we have access to explore anything that will bring them joy?”
The small art library is available for all community members to pick up supplies they need, or you can donate materials.
Jay Schwarzoff rides his bike down America Street every week. Now that the city has a place to drop off art supplies for those in need, he is already planning to donate his supplies.
“Well, I have a lot of ceramics and glazes and tools that I haven’t used in over 20 years; they’re sitting in the back of my closet,” Schwarzoff said. “I can’t wait for someone else to use them.”
Although the Little Art Library is meant to pique those imaginations, says Morgan, this project is designed to help aspiring artists in need lift themselves out of poverty.
“That’s what The Walls Project is trying to do. We really want to break down the barriers, the walls in society that are holding people back from living their best lives,” Morgan said.
To continue fostering the artist community in Baton Rouge, the Walls Project plans to create more small art libraries throughout the city.