REACH Community Art Program
REACH is a weekly studio program that creates a safe and supportive community of peers to promote community and individual healing and destigmatize mental health challenges, homelessness, and recovery.
About the REACH art program at RedLine
In response to the lack of support for artists who have experienced extreme financial hardship, are unhoused or in recovery, REACH was created as an artist-led studio art program that offers a safe and inclusive space for artists to build their creative practice and take the next steps in their lives.
Local community organizations (service providers) who support individuals as they overcome life obstacles are invited to bring groups to create, ideate and/or collaborate with their peers and community on a weekly basis for facilitated art sessions with a focus on supporting individual’s behavioral health.
Artists are encouraged to decompress, connect, and most importantly, just be.
REACH Program Hours
Every Tuesday-Thursday from 1-4pm, REACH artists can enjoy non-instructive open studio time in the RedLine Community Studio.
REACH Program Membership Levels
REACH has three levels of membership participation:
2023 REACH Core Artist Robin Hill at Tracing Treads exhibition opening.
1. Open Studio Participant
Artist who has access to the weekly open studio during operating hours (every Tuesday-Thursday from 1-4pm).
Benefits include:
Community support and networking
Free art supplies (general painting, printmaking, drawing and collage supplies)
Participation in two annual REACH Open Studio exhibitions
2. REACH Core Artist
Artist who has access to open studio benefits + professional development programming after going through the Core Artist application and onboarding process. Learn more about the REACH Core Artist program below.
3. REACH Core Artist Alumni
Artist who has completed the REACH Core Artist program requirements. Learn more about the REACH Core Artist program below.
REACH Core Artist Program
Opening reception for Parallel Evolution—Gonzo: An artist trajectory in three phases. 2023.
Image credit: Kyla Fear.
The REACH Core Artist program is a 3 year commitment and provides additional benefits beyond open studio.
After 6 months of participation in REACH, artists interested in pursuing a career in the arts are encouraged to apply to our REACH Core Artist program.
Meet our 2023 REACH Core Artists and learn more about the program!
Frequently Asked Questions
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REACH cultivates creativity, collaboration, and professional development in an inclusive visual arts community. To participate, we ask that you respect and adhere to the following:
Be 18 years of age or older.
Register for Open Studio at the front desk on first visit.
Complete orientation with open studio facilitator on first open studio visit.
Check in at the front desk when you arrive.
Use only the front door for entering and exiting the building. Side door should remain closed at all times and is only accessible by staff and RedLine Resident Artists.
Respect the artwork in all exhibition spaces as well as resident artist studios by not touching or removing any artwork.
Be sober while participating in program offerings.
Clean up the workspace at the end of the work session and check in with the Open Studio Facilitator before leaving the studio.
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REACH Open Studio builds participants’ confidence, encourages creativity, and contributes to a greater sense of social belonging and well-being, as well as an enhanced quality of life.
Participants can enjoy:
Community support and networking
Free art supplies (general painting, printmaking, drawing, collage supplies available)
Participation in two annual REACH Open Studio exhibitions
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REACH was created by two art students from Metro State University in 2009. Both wanted to share the power of art with individuals experiencing homelessness and others in the community who often do not get a chance to express themselves creatively.
They began holding workshops through St. Francis Center, engaging clients in art making. Soon the program found a home in the Community Studio at RedLine, where it has grown since.
Over the last 10 years, the program has changed based on REACH artists needs and desires.
First REACH participant, Gonzo
Meet Tiffany Medina, REACH Studio Facilitator
Tiffany Medina is a multi media artist who currently resides in Denver. She works with a diverse range of mediums. Creativity has been used to express her empathy and perception.
Tiffany has evolved through her entrepreneur spirit. From selling candy on the school yard, running several businesses to embracing the artist at heart. She became a “student“ at RedLines’ REACH program in 2019.
Tiffany’s essence is represented through connection with her empathetic views to social issues and self reflection. She focuses on her peace, yet creates from her noise. Tiffany paints with intention and lives in a place of healing, using experience to bring her creativity to life.
Her intention to share her creativity and inspire others to find theirs, and learn to embrace the tough experiences that we must work through to find ourselves.
REACH Program Blogs
Questions About the REACH Program?
If any community artists have questions about REACH program at RedLine, please contact Art Education & Community Outreach Director Tya Anthony.
Support for REACH Program
RedLine would like to thank SparkJoy Foundation, Bank of America, Susan & Bradford Lewis, Sidney E. Frank Foundation - Colorado Fund, and Virginia Hill Foundation for their support of these exhibitions and our REACH Program.
In celebration of Gonzo's current retrospective at RedLine, curators Robin Gallite and Louise Martorano sat down with Gonzo to chat about his evolution as an artist and time in RedLine's REACH program. Watch the full interview and learn more about Gonzo's retrospective Parallel Evolution—Gonzo: An artist trajectory in three phases, on display through January 7, 2024.