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Raising the Next Generation of Arts Lovers

GP was founded in 1980 as a waitress service supporting women in the arts, and from that audacious beginning, creativity has been woven into our company DNA. Art is everywhere at GP. We partner with iconic New York cultural institutions like the Brooklyn Museum, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Through our Artist Fellowship Award, four staff artists each year have the opportunity to receive a $5,000 grant to complete a project they’re passionate about. And if you’ve ever visited our office you know, nearly every inch of wall space that’s not already claimed by thriving plants is filled with art.

With that enduring love of the arts in mind, we turned our attention beyond the workplace and asked our team: how do you experience the arts outside of work ….with your kids? Here is what they had to say.

De'Enna Quinn - Inside Sales Associate

My daughter’s very first show was Boop! The Musical, and she treated it like serious business — studying the costumes, whispering questions about how sets move, fully invested from curtain up to curtain call. Not long after, we joined NYC Girl Scouts for a special matinee of Mamma Mia!, which quickly turned into enthusiastic seat-dancing and a post-show breakdown of her favorite numbers.

On a rainy Saturday, we took sketchbooks to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and picked a gallery to sit and draw. No racing through exhibits — just choosing a painting, noticing details, and trying to capture what we saw. It felt simple and special at the same time.

That’s what I love most about raising her here. Broadway one week, museum benches the next. The access is extraordinary — but the real gift is watching her curiosity grow every time we step into something new.

Mike Deuel - Executive Chef of Catering Operations & Anastassia Batsoula-Deuel - Event Chef

Spending time in the arts with our daughter Mila has been one of our greatest joys so far. Since she was just two months old, she’s been fascinated by patterns—studying fabrics, contrasting designs, and carefully observing the details on people’s outfits (she’ll stop and really look at what someone is wearing). Art time began simply with water painting and her beloved water pen, still one of her favorite tools. We’ve since added drawing on a dry erase board and crayons on paper. Like many young artists, she’s especially inspired by what we call the “forbidden surfaces,” and we’ve learned to see that curiosity as creativity in action. We love visiting museums together, where she studies paintings and lights up at bold colors. Watching her connect with art so instinctively reminds me that creativity isn’t something we teach children—it’s something we protect and nurture.

Holly Prochilo – Administrative and Project Coordinator

I love taking my kids into the city on the LIRR for artsy adventures. I lure them in with the promise of their favorite foods, something they can’t get on Long Island. For my 10-year-old son, it’s Ippudo Ramen. For my 12-year-old daughter, Raising Cane’s. Before the reward of the meal, I sneak in the culture.

We might visit a museum, gallery, or show. Recently, we’ve gone to the Met, seen Six on Broadway, caught Mt. Joy in concert at The Theater at MSG, and strolled through the galleries of Chelsea.

I’d be lying if I said every moment is filled with awe and wonder. Sometimes they’re bored or tired. There’s definitely some whining and a fair amount of dragging feet by the end of the day. But truthfully, the days I make them walk the most or stay out the longest are the ones they remember best. A little character-building goes a long way. After some good food and a quiet train ride home they return inspired, full of new ideas and ready to create.

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