By Allison Schaub, Advancement & Operations Assistant
It’s the week after Express Yourself and while the staff here at P.S. ARTS have tired feet and are in need of perhaps an extra cup of coffee, we can’t stop talking about what a success the event was.
What is Express Yourself?
Express Yourself is P.S. ARTS’ biggest fundraising event of the year. Each November, families all across Southern California come together for a day of creating, playing, and eating together in support of arts education. The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica is filled with rows of booths that have unique art activities and special treats from some of the tastiest restaurants and caterers in Los Angeles. I’ve been told by some attendees that Express Yourself is anticipated as much as a birthday or favorite holiday, and often becomes a family tradition. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at Express Yourself 2013.
As an Express Yourself first timer, I was amazed by the level of detail that goes into this event. Keeping track of art and edible booths, committee meetings, guest lists, art supplies, and decorations are only a few components of putting something like this together (though there isn’t really anything quite like Express Yourself). While it seems like an effortless and flawless event on the day of, it takes a lot of preparation to make things run so smoothly.
How does the event stay so organized? Events Coordinator, Chelsea Martell with her lists, lists, and more lists!
ADBD and Peek… Aren’t You Curious? always design the BEST merchandise for Express Yourself, and this year was no exception.
And, Junk Food Clothing made awesome volunteer T’s to coincide with this year’s theme – Peace, Love & Art.
We were so excited when 2013 merchandise arrived!!
This year, instead of a traditional donor book, the team decided to thank our supporters P.S. ARTS style by making a Creativity Book. Each page in the book had a a customized children’s art activity (some even based on our students’ artwork!) that highlighted all of our generous event sponsors. Here is Development & Communications Associate, Megan Strawther creating one of over 50 activities in the Creativity Book. We have such a talented team!
The day before Express Yourself is the definition of organized chaos. An empty airport hangar is transformed into a dreamer’s paradise in less than two days thanks to the team at Bounce AEG, along with our amazing crew of staff, booth leaders, and volunteers.
We loved this mural created at the art booth, “Exploring Our Dreams, Expanding Our Universe: Collaborative Diptych Mural.” One of the many masterpieces created that day!
Whether it was your first year or your tenth, we want to say a huge thank you to all who participated and supported Express Yourself. It would not have been such a success without the help and dedication of the Board of Trustees, Express Yourself Committee, booth leaders and restaurants, P.S. ARTS staff and Teaching Artists, and volunteers. Because of you, close to half a million dollars was raised to continue providing nationally recognized arts education in underserved public schools and communities.
To see pictures and/or read what guests and volunteers were posting at our event, be sure to check out the #psarts and #expressyourself2013 hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. Our event was also featured in the Los Angeles Times, Just Jared, Herald Online, and Daily Mail UK.
If you loved attending this event and are interested in attending more, be sure to check out our Friends of P.S. ARTS membership program to receive special benefits and exclusive access to our signature fundraising events throughout the year. You will also receive a P.S. ARTS Perks card that gets you special deals at restaurants throughout LA, including some that were at Express Yourself (a special thank you to Simple Things, Baby Blues BBQ, and Rita’s Italian Ice!).
