Picnic Studio is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a progressive art space for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded by Molly Burch and Sascha Stannard, Picnic Studio was born out of a deep belief that creative spaces should be widely accessible to adults with IDD, who disproportionately face social isolation and limited access to employment opportunities. The ability to earn an income or pursue creative endeavors should not be a privilege—it should be a basic right. For many, these obstacles are even more pronounced in today’s world, where the system for adults with disabilities is severely broken and extremely vulnerable.

We are at a critical moment—there is an urgent need for innovative spaces that empower people with IDD and foster community. We need your help to bring our vision to life!

With your support, we will secure our space in Pasadena, which we envision as a vibrant, community-driven studio and gallery in a shared space. Once secured, our program will operate like an artist residency, offering participating artists the opportunity to explore new mediums, build their portfolios, sell their work, and create social connections. We will host art exhibitions, poetry readings, movie nights, and more. Picnic Studio will be an inclusive space to learn from one another, exchange diverse perspectives, and build a stronger, more connected community—especially now, when we need it the most.

Our $50,000 fundraising goal will allow us to:

Secure our space with a deposit and cover the first few months of rent
Create personalized, ADA-accessible artist workstations
Provide essential art materials
Cover costs for our first few community events and art openings

Every contribution will have a lasting impact on the lives of adults with IDD, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support. You’ll receive updates with photos, stories from our artists, invitations to events, and more.

All donations are tax-deductible, thanks to our fiscal sponsor, Light Bringer Project, a respected Pasadena-based arts education nonprofit that has generously agreed to be our fiscal sponsor while we await our 501(c)(3) status.

For more information about our future plans, please visit our website and follow us on Instagram!

Help Picnic Studio Secure Our Space!

A Progressive Art Space for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities