ArtSpire began in October 2017 as an unincorporated group of 8 volunteers with a common interest in the arts, arts education, and children's welfare & well-being. Several of the founding volunteers were amateur musicians, painters, writers, and arts advocates. Miriam Duvall longtime New York City children's advocate and philanthropist - spearheaded the effort, suggesting opportunities be provided for vulnerable children who had little to no access to the arts so they could experience live performance and other cultural experiences through organized arts field trips. Thus, the emerging idea of ArtSpire was born. Their first trip was to a concert by the New York Philharmonic performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 3. It was quickly followed by an excursion to see Rogers and Hammerstein's "Carousel" on Broadway, and trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Partnering with three youth social services agencies, the volunteers continued their effort and expanded outreach to arts presenting partners in classical music, opera, theater, dance, and the visual arts. That first year they served 34 at-risk children.

In January 2020, the project was formally adopted as a program of Lux Nova, Inc., and named ArtSpire. Since September 2021, ArtSpire has served over 2,000 children and logged 3OO-plus arts outings' ln 2O2l ArtSpire introduced its Arts Scholarships Program to provide tuition support for individual and group instruction at New York City's leading arts schools and conservatories. 12 scholarships were awarded the first year for private and group music and dance lessons, partnering with Third Street Music School, Lucy Moses School of Music, the New York Theatre ballet School, and the Dance Theater of Harlem.

In the 2024-25 school year, we will award 32 scholarships totaling $20,000 for arts study at 18 partner fine and performing arts schools in the five New York City boroughs. ArtSpire and its sister program, Orpheus Rising, comprise the two programs within the Division of Performing Arts & Art Education as managed by its parent organization Lux Nova, Inc.

ArtSpire's Vision
...to provide the broadest horizons and pathways to success for New York City's most vulnerable children.

ArtSpire's Mission
...to leverage all available community resources so that children may shape a sustainable and prosperous future, and create lasting change for the communities in which they live.