Our Programs
ART Encounters
Enhance self-esteem and confidence, encourage self-discovery, improve communication skills, build personal connections, teach art principles
Youth ages 9-18 participate in 2-4 art classes per month (6- 9 hours of instruction).
Youth exhibit and sell their art at bi-monthly exhibits at a professional art gallery and retain the profit from these sales.
Youth attend gallery opening receptions where they speak about their artwork to professional artists and other reception guests
Location: Edgewood Children’s Ranch (reparative, residential care for troubled youth)
ART Discoveries
Enhance self-esteem and confidence, provide access to new arts experiences, teach art principles
Youth ages 9-15 participate in 2 art class(es) per month (3 hours of instruction).
Youth participate in 3 field trips to the Orlando Museum of Art (includes museum tour and art project related to one exhibit).
Youth attend 2 plays and participate in a backstage tour and drama workshop at the Orlando Repertory Theatre.
Locations: Orlando Union Rescue Mission (homeless shelter for families) and Great Oaks Village (group foster care facility)
ART with a Purpose
Encourage self-discovery, enhance self-esteem, build community and provide access to new arts experiences
Youth and young adults ages 13-25 participate in quarterly field trips to the Orlando Museum of Art (includes museum tour and therapeutic art project)
Location: Zebra Coalition (support services for LGBTQ+ youth)
Creating Community
Educate the community through art, and enhance cultural pride
Educational art activities are provided for the public at community events to raise awareness of child welfare issues, or to honor achievements by minority cultures and their leaders.
Locations: Orlando and Winter Garden, Florida
ART Additions
Enhance and support public school art programming at low-income schools
Students are given the opportunity to participate in special community art exhibits.
Complimentary tickets are provided for students to attend theatrical performances.
Art supplies are purchased and donated to support school art programming.
Volunteers provide weekly assistance in the art classroom.
Location: Maxey Arts Magnet School
Kits for Kids
Expand art access
Disadvantaged youth receive art kits allowing them to continue creating art outside of class.
Locations: Various organizations in Orlando and Winter Garden, Florida
START the Conversation
Provide input from youth and encourage conversation regarding community development initiatives
Children in under-resourced communities create art to highlight existing assets and future dreams for their communities.
Residents of long neglected neighborhoods are often reluctant to speak up to local leaders because of past experiences.
Children and the art they create opens up the conversation and gets everyone talking.
Clients: Lift Orlando, Polis Institute, and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
Healing the HEART
Provide therapeutic art experiences for victims of sexual abuse
Teen and pre-teen girls complete a therapeutic art project for Child Abuse Prevention Month
Teen and pre-teen girls participate in special community art exhibits for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Location: Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families (support services for disabled, disadvantaged, or abused children, child abuse prevention programs)
ART for Understanding
Educate the community through art, and enhance cultural pride
Children’s art is exhibited in prominent public venues or at community events to raise awareness of child welfare issues or to honor achievements by minority cultures and their leaders.
Locations: Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orange County Administration Building, Orlando City Hall, University of Central Florida, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
“I learned in art class that I am special no matter what, and that there are a lot of ways to express myself. I also learned what I can do. I never knew I could be such a good artist.”
Dominic, age 12