Our first Capital Campaign

As Art Camp 504 entered our 10th anniversary year, we set our sights on owning our first commercial building.

After a decade of sharing real estate with other creative organizations, it was time to spread our wings and have space that we can call our own.

Then, something magical happened – the old Gerkens Bike Shop on Saint Claude Ave. landed in our lap! The iconic pink building doubles the square footage we previously had while allowing us to stay rooted in the Bywater/Marigny neighborhood. The two-story facility and spacious backyard is the perfect canvas to paint our next chapter. 

In the spring of 2026, we signed a lease-to-own agreement and quickly got to work upgrading the building so it was clean, safe and functional for our 2026 Summer Camp. But we still have much work to do in order to renovate and expand our new home so that we can accelerate our mission and serve over 2,000 students per year by 2028.

This is where YOU come in.

By the end of our 10th anniversary year (May 2027) we need to raise $275,000, and we can’t do it without the support of our community. Your donations will enable us to buy this property and implement a three-phase construction plan.