April Arts Marathon:

April Arts Marathon Instructions

Welcome and thank you for participating in CASP’s second annual April Arts Marathon! We are thrilled to invite you into a month of creativity, community, and meaningful impact.

Throughout the month of April, artists commit to practicing and sharing their work five days a week with sponsors who pledge donations to the Community Asylum Seekers Project (CASP)—turning daily creativity into critical community support. At the end of the Marathon, we’ll celebrate with an online Exhibit. Each artist may submit up to three pieces created during April. We can’t wait to see what you create—and to stand together in support of asylum seekers through this powerful month of art and solidarity.

Want to learn more? Join our April Arts Marathon Info Session: March 11th, 6-7pm (RSVP required)- https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1k2HU_uLRYu_lCfrINu0Yw#/registration. Meet CASP staff and participating artists, exchange ideas, and build momentum for the month ahead.

Getting Started:

  1. Sign up for your own personalized fundraising page. Adapt and personalize the template we provide. Give your page a name, introduce yourself as an artist, upload a piece of your work, and share your creative vision for April. A compelling page helps inspire sponsors to join you.
  2. Share your link & find sponsors for your marathon!
    Within a few days of creating your page, we’ll send you the direct link by email. This is your moment to reach out and invite your community to become sponsors of your arts marathon!

    Share your page’s link widely—with friends, family, and your broader art community. Let them know:

    • You’ll be participating in CASP’s April Arts Marathon
    • You’ll be sharing work five days a week throughout April with your sponsors
    • How you’ll share your art (our new art sharing feature, or your own email, Instagram, blog, website, Facebook, etc.)
    • Their sponsorship is a donation to the Community Asylum Seeker Projects. All funds will support asylum seekers in Southern Vermont.

CASP will provide:

  • A robust online platform for signing up, tracking, communicating, and sharing art with sponsors
  • You will receive a link to your personal art sharing page. This link is not published anywhere so each time you post, share the link with your sponsors so they can view your art. Feel free to try it out before the marathon starts. (use is encouraged but optional if you prefer other methods of sharing your art)
  • Outreach materials (available mid-March) to find sponsors
  • Ongoing encouragement and support
  • An online gallery at the midway point and again at the end of April

Why This Matters

Proceeds from the Arts Marathon are essential to CASP’s ability to accompany asylum seekers who, against all odds—terror at home and now fear here—continue striving for lives of dignity and independence. This week, CASP staff are meeting with families to plan for the unthinkable: if parents are detained, who will care for their children? Staff are guiding families through setting up temporary guardianship, and these conversations are heartbreaking.

Now more than ever, we need creative and collective ways to support those fleeing violence and oppression. Through the April Arts Marathon, we build a community of care and resistance—while making a tangible difference in the lives of asylum seekers.

As one client shared simply:

“Thank you to CASP. When I am scared I know I can turn to CASP.”

Funds raised through the Marathon support:

  • Housing
  • Basic living expenses
  • Case management
  • Legal fees
  • Emergency needs

Many asylum seekers must wait at least six months before receiving work permits, making this support crucial.

How the April Arts Marathon Works

Artists and writers commit to creating throughout April—drawing, painting, sewing, photographing, writing, composing, or working in any medium—and sharing their work digitally five days a week with sponsors.

The sky’s the limit:

  • Poems, essays, non-fiction, and stories
  • Sketches, paintings, and photographs
  • Fabric art and multimedia
  • Music and multi-genre projects

You may:

  • Create a new original piece each day
    or
  • Develop an accumulative project and share your progress regularly

If five days a week feels like too much, that’s okay! Make the Marathon your own—create three days a week or adapt the format to fit your life. Just be clear on your artist page so sponsors know what to expect.

Everyone wins:

  • Artists hone their craft and build momentum
  • Sponsors receive a month of meaningful creativity
  • Asylum seekers receive vital support as they rebuild their lives

Important Dates & Details

Questions or feedback? Email Francie and Rachel at board@caspvt.org. We are here for you and will guide you throughout the entire Marathon.

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