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ESS COMMUNITY PROJECTS INC

BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 821733625 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A25 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · esscp.org
revenue
$57K
expenses
$64K
net assets
$-10K
employees
12
program ratio
61%
mission · from form 990

PROVIDE ACCESS TO ART EDUCATION FOR CHILD AND ADULTS

profile · synthesized from sources

ESS Community Projects Inc is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit community art studio providing high-quality art education for children and adults. Programs emphasize student-driven, process-focused learning through drawing, painting, sculpture, and collaborative projects. Classes are offered in-studio, in public schools, and at community events, with a commitment to accessibility regardless of income.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

ARTLAB Original
Art program for children ages 2.5 to 4 and their adult collaborators, combining storytelling or artist studies with hands-on art-making activities
Art After School AT School
After-school art classes for PreK-1st grade students held onsite in school buildings, featuring book- and art-inspired projects and open studio time
Eckford Street Studio
In-studio art education program for all ages with a focus on skill-building, creative exploration, and community building
Summer Art Workshops
Week-long art programs for young artists centered on thematic exploration through drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage, culminating in student-led exhibitions
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
    • Hiring and employing art education professionals
      Recruits and employs art education professionals and aspiring educators year-round to deliver playful, process-focused, and student-driven arts instruction across community and school-based programs.
  • Infection Prevention & Control Protocols 1 activity
    • Maintaining safe and inclusive studio environments
      Implements health and safety protocols including HEPA air purifiers, MERV13 filters in HVAC systems, physical distancing through spaced work areas and limited class sizes (maximum of 8–12 students), individual art supplies, mask requirements, temperature checks, and exterior drop-off/pick-up procedures to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Providing process-focused art education for children and adults
      Offers ongoing art education classes for children, youth, and adults in a community studio, public schools, and neighborhood events in North Brooklyn, emphasizing student-driven exploration in drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage. Programs include weekly classes for young children (ages 2.5 to 4) with adult collaborators and thematic summer art workshops culminating in student exhibitions.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$57K
Contributions & grants$24K43%
Program service revenue$32K57%
Investment income$460%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$64K
Program expenses61%
Admin / overhead39%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$48K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8K
Cash$8K
Investments$0
Liabilities$18K
Net assets$-10K
Liquid reserves1.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -74.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KRISTIN MELKIN PRESIDENT 40 $14K
relationships · 3

Who they work with

  • Greenpoint Reformed Church Partner — Hosts the Summer Art Workshop program and partners with ESS Community Projects to support the Greenpoint Reformed Church Hunger Program through its programming.
  • info@esscp.org Partner — Contact point for teaching artist inquiries related to adult classes.
  • local public schools Partner — Collaborates with local public schools to deliver art education programs.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • On-Site School Integration
    methodology: on-site school programming
    By delivering art programs directly within schools, we increase access and participation for young children, because proximity reduces logistical barriers for families and institutions.
  • Sliding-Scale Access Model
    methodology: sliding_scale_access
    By removing financial barriers through income-based tuition adjustments, we increase equitable access to arts education, because affordability enables participation across socioeconomic groups.
  • Student-Driven Arts Education
    methodology: student-driven_arts_education
    By centering student autonomy and creative choice in arts education, we deepen engagement and understanding, because responsive, child-led curricula foster intrinsic motivation and authentic artistic practice.