Now, More Than Ever
August 2025
Good Morning!
We have one last update to share before summer ends. If you are able, find a quiet spot free from interruptions to read this. September is the start of our program year, so we want to direct your attention to a few ways you can get involved with The Novelty Collective. Once you’ve reached the end, please take a moment to pray for us & consider how you might join our efforts to make a lasting impact on the creative community we are all a part of.
This Is For You
A Maker’s Playground
We will be back to our regular Open Studios schedule every fourth Saturday of the month from 11am-5pm, starting September 27! We know it can be difficult finding time for creative expression. That’s why we make our space available for you every month. We’ll make sure you have the supplies you need, & we’ll even feed you—all for free. Pay us a visit at The COVE Art Center. You won’t leave disappointed! Learn more about it & add the next Open Studios date to your digital calendar from our website. If you have questions about what kinds of tools & supplies we have, please send us a message!
An Uplifting Event
“As Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.”
– John 3:13-14
The Novelty Collective Music & Arts Festival has been our biggest event of the year since 2017. It’s a two-day celebration of creativity in community featuring bands, poets, & singer-songwriters from Pittsburgh & across the country on two stages at The COVE Art Center in Pittsburgh. In addition to our performing acts, NoCo Fest highlights an eclectic variety of original artwork crafted by visual artists & artisans, which is all available for purchase. You can learn more about the fest, apply to participate, & view our galleries from previous festivals by tapping the link below.
How You Can Help
Join Our Team
The Novelty Collective is a small nonprofit organization with a mission greater than our current means. We are always looking for hands-on help with programming & events. There are so many ways to get involved, & we’ve made it easy for you to find navigate available positions through the volunteer app on our website. Whether you are passionate about working with kids, making space for adults to create, or moving behind the scenes to keep The COVE ready for visitors, there is a place for you here.
Serve Our Students
“But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14)
If you have a calling to work with kids, we have volunteer positions available during our Afterschool program that require a relatively low-level commitment.
Workshop Instructors: We are looking for artists to teach one-hour art lessons every week (5pm-6pm). This can be a one-time skill share, a short series of classes, or ongoing instruction once a week. We are willing to work with whatever level of commitment you have to offer!
Bible Teachers: Bible lessons happen every day of Afterschool from 4:30pm-5pm. We’re looking for individuals who are passionate about God’s Word & able to exposit its content in ways a child can comprehend. Crafts or art lessons which compliment the teaching are a huge bonus! We are open to a one-time lesson, a series, or ongoing studies for this role, as well.
Afterschool Leaders: Finally, we simply need adults who are willing to show up one day per week & offer a consistent presence for our students. We are looking for motivated role-models who show up ready to jump into the action & engage with our kids, whether it involves art or not. Creative skills are a bonus, but the greater need is for adults who are welcoming, encouraging, compassionate, & kind.
Afterschool starts back on Monday, September 8th, & the program runs from 3pm-6pm every Monday through Thursday. We are open for middle school & high school students, & most of them come from the Northgate school district. Our students are fun, generally outgoing, & eager to learn. We don’t want to miss any of them because there are too few of us to be intentionally present with individuals.
Hang With Adults
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love & good works, & let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
We love gathering with other artists to create together, share skills, showcase talent, collaborate on projects, network, & make new friends. Help us facilitate adult programs like Open Studios & run events like NoCo Fest!
Open Studios Coordinators: We need folks who can commit to planning & running this program every fourth Saturday of the month. Responsibilities include arriving at The COVE early to set up, gathering & distributing food for visitors, helping artists find supplies, & cleaning at the end. If we find one-to-three coordinators, no one would have to do more than three Saturdays out of the whole year!
NoCo Event Team: Our volunteers are the beating heart of NoCo events. The Novelty Collective Music & Arts Fest in November will be an especially heavy lift, so the more hands we have, the better. We are looking for folks willing to clean & set up for the event; greet visitors, collect donations, & be on call to help artists during the event; & to tear down after the event.
Programs & events aside, we can use help at The COVE Art Center all the time! There is a never-ending list of tasks & projects that will take more time & energy than just two people can spare, so sign up to be a “space maker” or reach out to us directly for more information about what we need day-to-day.
Partner With Us
By the grace of God & the support of people like you who believe in our mission, this organization is moving into its tenth year of operation! We are in a season of reflection looking back on all the sweet memories we made, the successes we celebrated, & the lives that have been blessed by this ministry. It is our greatest desire to keep pouring our time, our passion, our energy, & our gifts into the kingdom work we are doing, but we cannot do so on our own. It has always been a group effort.
Now, truly, more than ever, we need your support. The Novelty Collective relies on its mission partners to keep going, especially since we were hit with a significant loss in revenue this year. We are asking for you to pray that God will lead us to long-term solutions, that He will continue to stun us with His amazing provision, & that He will send new mission partners who share our vision.
If you feel led to make a monthly contribution to our ministry, we invite you to visit our donation page. The form is secure & easy to fill out. We are committed to keeping your information private, & all contributions are tax-deductible. We look forward to sharing the magnificent stories of God’s provision & sharing the fruits of sustainability & abundance in future newsletters!
As the Father wills, may it be so, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Final Thoughts
As some of you know, Brittany & I have been fighting an intense, uphill battle for our health recently. Chronic illness has slammed the brakes on a lot of my activity over the past ten years, & now it makes the difficult task of operating an organization like The Novelty Collective even harder. Rest is also a challenge, especially when a health crisis cuts into the little time we have set aside for sabbatical & vacation. Brittany & I are very tired. We are weak. We covet your prayers right now.
That said, I would be remiss to omit my firm belief in the sufficiency of Christ. In our most bitter weakness, He remains strong. Despite our present suffering, He is still good. If you have recently suffered loss, find yourself in the middle of a hopeless situation, or just need a word of encouragement, I hope these next words will find you. Meditate on them. Pray them out loud. Believe.
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small & won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them & will last forever!”
– 2 Corinthians 4:16
“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldy to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, & we will find grace to help us when we need it the most.”
– Hebrews 4:14-16
“Come to me, all of you who are weary & carry heavy burdens, & I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble & gentle at heart, & you will find rest for your souls.”
– Matthew 11:28-29
Blessings,
The NoCo Team
Article written by Jordan A. King
