Leveraging NYC Investments 3.5:1

Visionary City Council Members

We have leveraged $2.4M in NYC Council Investments to raise more than $9M to help eradicate artless education since 2014.

Since 2014, twenty-eight NYC Council Members have provided 152 awards totaling $2.4 Million to help bring Thrive Collective to 250 schools and communities in all five boroughs. To date, Thrive has leveraged these investments to raise more than $9 Million to serve more than 35,000 students by strengthening arts, music, sports, and mentoring programs. In FY24, thirteen Council Members provided 22 awards totaling $366,000.

Current Schools and Community Centers

As of 2023, Thrive Collective serves 200 schools and community centers in 42 of 51 NYC Council districts. Interactive Map.

In FY23, Thrive’s core programs worked with 5,000 students in 65 schools, producing 148 murals totaling over 40,000 sq. ft. of public art; nearly 60 art festivals, ribbon cutting celebrations, assemblies, and basketball tournaments. Overall, Thrive students, artists, and 3,500 volunteers from 120 partner organizations and businesses have served forty-two council districts; completed over 450 murals totaling 150,000 square feet of public art; produced over 300 festivals, assemblies, and events; and much more.

Together, these visionary colleagues are helping Bring Art Back for a renaissance in public education and placemaking citywide.

Tangible Outcomes

Return on Investment

Our project-based learning experiences reset the bar of possibility for all who participate. Our students learn how to develop a shared vision and bring that vision to life collaboratively with others. Tangible outcomes include murals, music, videos, events, festivals, sports leagues and tournaments, mentoring relationships, and transferable life skills essential for thriving. Click the images below to enjoy portfolios of the public art murals students have completed with Council support since FY14. Enjoy original songs and music videos by R.H.Y.M.E. here. Watch student films produced here.

Good News Stories

NYC x Thrive Collective Updates

BLM Mural: The Letter A

Humbled to be featured in the latest installment of Your Neighbor’s Backyard’s “Good Neighbor” series, which highlights people who are using their resources to help others. Filmmaker Jonathan Cortizo tells the story…

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A Garden Mural for Stapleton Houses

From NYCHA Journal. A beautiful, bright garden has sprouted on the walls of the Stapleton Senior Center at Staten Island’s Stapleton Houses. The flowers are made of paint in this new mural, “Flowers of Our People,” which features an array of…

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As Seen in the NY Times

The ‘Black Lives Matter’ Street Art That Contain Multitudes The works in Harlem and Lower Manhattan are much more than a challenge to President Trump; they are opportunities for Black…

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BLM Mural: As Seen on Social Media

Thanks to all the photographers and videographers who captured the #BlackLivesMatter mural making moments in Foley Square last week. Enjoy this selection of Instagram highlights from collaborators, videographers, and NYC…

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The Mural Kings

ORIGIN STORIES ➡️ Tats Cru: The Mural Kings Tats Cru made history this week with the Black Lives Matter mural in lower Manhattan. Borough President Gale A. Brewer and WXY…

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The Free Mural Winner Is

The winner of the inaugural #KindnessBeatsTheVirus Free Mural contest is: PS 155 William Paca in East Harlem Special thanks to all the amazing students and NYC public schools that participated…

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HeART Beat Online 2020

Watch HeART Beat Online 2021 here. Replay the Live Stream Enjoy the replay edited by Tony Horn of Bric Arts Media. Originally hosted on Zoom and live-streamed on June 25 by…

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Wildstyle Book, vol. II

Download Volumes 1 and 2 below. WHAT IF KINDNESS GOES VIRAL? What if a novel strain of Corona Kindness were as infectious as COVID-19? What if we conquer Corona because…

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