Dahlonega Arts Alliance Launches 5th Annual Summer Art Kit Initiative at Lumpkin County Library

The Dahlonega Arts Alliance (DAA) is excited to announce the launch of its 5th Annual Summer Art Kit Initiative, beginning today at the Lumpkin County Library! These free art kits are now available to children throughout the community as part of the library’s Summer Reading Program—an annual tradition that encourages creativity and learning all summer long.

Each art kit is a treasure trove of inspiration, thoughtfully assembled by members of the DAA to spark imagination and artistic exploration. This year’s kits include:

🎨 Colored pencils
🖌️ Paint and brushes
🖼️ A canvas
📄 Paper
📘 and, The 2025 DAA Coloring and Activity Book – featuring original artwork from local DAA member artists Margeaux Wex, Pattie Pirone, Kelley Chambers, Evie Somogyi Kitchens, Terran McCanna, Bryan Garris, and Bobby Youngblood.

Whether your child is an aspiring painter, a doodler, or simply curious about making art, these kits are designed to offer something for everyone. Best of all, they’re completely free, made possible through the generosity of the DAA and its community supporters.

One of the highlights of the initiative each year is “Pack Night”, when DAA members and volunteers come together to assemble the kits. This year’s Pack Night was held on May 14th, 2025, in the Lumpkin County Library meeting room. A fantastic team of volunteers—Ally and Fiona and Jill Gray from Connectability, Lumpkin County Librarians Agnes Gore and Erin Lavallee, Sue Snyder, Melanie Knauff, Tom Hubbard, Suzanne Latham, Sarah Clark, Janet Ericson, Haley McDaniel, Pattie & Carl Pirone, Elaine Chambers, Connie Humphrey, Fin, Matt, & Ian McNeil, and Meagan & Bryan Garris—divided and conquered an impressive assembly line to pack 250 kits in total. Of these, 100 kits will be distributed by the Library, and 75 kits were set aside for Connectability and Community Helping Place’s “Well Fed Well Read” program.

The inclusion of the 2025 DAA Coloring and Activity Book makes this year’s kit extra special. Filled with fun and engaging pages created by local artists, the book allows kids to color in real artwork and learn more about the vibrant creative community here in Dahlonega.

“We’re thrilled to partner once again with the Lumpkin County Library to put these kits into the hands of local children,” said a spokesperson from the DAA. “Our goal is to keep the joy of creativity alive all summer and to help kids see that art is for everyone.”

To pick up a kit, stop by the Lumpkin County Library while supplies last!

Learn more about the Dahlonega Arts Alliance and their programs at https://www.artsdahlonega.org/daa-summer-art-kit-initiative.

Check out all of the Lumpkin County Library’s amazing programming this summer at https://www.facebook.com/lumpkincountylibrary/

Let’s make this a summer full of stories, color, and creativity!