Takema Robinson
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Takema Robinson 2004 fellow
Bold Idea
Create personal and social transformation by using the space in coin-operated laundromats in communities of color as places to create and display art.
Organization
Rooted in the belief that art and cultural participation serves as an important pathway to civic engagement, The Laundromat Project aims to create socially relevant arts programming that is physically, conceptually and financially accessible to residents of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn by offering the programming in a functioning laundromat. The Laundromat Project capitalizes on the "open space" of the laundromat to engage people that may not actively seek out an arts experience and/or those who may not be involved in social change initiatives. Through programs and workshops that focus on visual literacy, art making and exhibition, The Laundromat Project raises awareness around the issues affecting its community and create substantial opportunities for social critiques that lead to action. As a social enterprise, The Laundromat Project employs an innovative funding model, whereby income from the laundromat will provide a source of sustained revenue for the arts organization.
Biography
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Takema Robinson has a rich family history of community activism and education advocacy. Following in this tradition, Takema has focused her career on strategies for broadening access to the arts and integrating arts into public education and social justice initiatives. This includes spearheading several community-based arts and education programs at museums, cultural institutions and grassroots organizations including The International Center of Photography, The Studio Museum in Harlem, The New Museum of Contemporary Art, The Smithsonian Institution, and The Seattle Museum of Art.
As Program Director for the Dream Yard Project, Takema oversaw the opening of the Dream Yard Preparatory School, an arts-integration public high school in the central Bronx.
