How Artists Change Children’s Lives

When Nelson Mandella stated, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children” his words rang the call for raising consciousness and taking action. Unfortunately, throughout the world many children are neglected and abused or are having to deal with emotional or physical illness. Thankfully, many creative individuals come to their aid. Read about how artists change children’s lives through a few of the many special nonprofit art programs.

Drawn To Help drawntohelp.com was created by artist Steve Barr to supplement existing art programs at hospitals, camps and treatment facilities around the country. This outstanding organization helps arrange “celebrity” appearances by successful cartoonists and talented artists who want to improve children’s lives. What began as a single visit to a friend’s child in the hospital loomed into cartooning programs through which professional cartoonists visit young patients at multiple treatment facilities in seven states.

Leading the way in arts education since 1977 is Studio in A School studioinaschool.org, founded by Agnes Gund, philanthropist and President Emerita of the Museum of Modern Art. This non-profit has enriched the lives of more than 850,000 children in New York City’s five boroughs with the visual arts. It brings professional artists into schools and community organizations to lead classes in a range of mediums. The instructors work with teachers to link art with other academic subjects.

This organization hires only professional artists because, “Working artists are particularly suited for teaching art, not only because they have extensive knowledge of the history and culture of art and strong technical skills, but also because they are able to model an artist’s way of thinking and working.”

Inner-City Arts, inner-cityarts.org, located in Los Angeles, California is a leader in this direction. “An oasis of learning, achievement and creativity” it resides in the heart of Skid Row. Its Education, Arts and Social-Emotional Learning (EASEL) Program teaches administrators how to “bridge arts instruction with other core content areas through a lens of social-emotional learning and brain-based research.”

Transforming the lives of young at-risk kids through creativity is Art Start, art-start.org. This award-winning organization began in 1991 when a group of artists got together with homeless kids to make art in New York City. The children they serve live in city shelters or on the streets, or live with parents in crisis. In daily creative arts workshops local artists donate their time to nurture the talents of these young individuals.

Another life-changing art program was started Adarsh Alphons, an artist who was born in India and lives in New York City. In 2011, while art programs were being slashed in public schools he launched ProjectArt projectart.org in Harlem. ProjectArt brings art classes to public libraries located near schools where art is not taught. Both emerging artists and college students teach art classes to these children.

Kids & Art Foundation, kidsandart.org, founded by Purvi Shah, is a nonprofit that provides free art workshops to children touched by cancer and their care circle to improve their well-being during treatment, as survivors, and in bereavement. The workshops are held at UCSF Benioff Children’s hospital, Stanford Children’s hospital and unique destinations throughout the Bay Area in California. Professional artists volunteer their time and are trained specifically to work with this community. Together, they use art as healing to empower, encourage, and create memorable experiences.