Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts, Culture & Humanities, Arts Services, Children & Youth, Youth Development

Mission: Mission: Transforming children’s trauma to resilience through the arts. Vision: Every child who has experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect and/or homelessness has access to resilience-building arts programs and caring adult volunteer mentors. Values:
•Resilience –We are optimistic, solutions-focused, and agile in an ever-changing environment.
•Bravery –We take smart and well-supported risks. We try, sometimes we fail, we learn, and we try again. We bravely ask for feedback and have a growth mindset.
•Connection –We build trust, and nurture strong and thoughtful connections.
•Creativity –We are inspired, imaginative, and design impactful experiences and solutions. We use an “art with intention” model ensuring there is a reason and meaning behind all activities.
•Strength –We look for the best in every situation and relationship. We seek, support, and celebrate the strengths of each individual.
•Innovation –We strategically plan, using past-experiences and current information for a positive future.

Results: Over the past 27 years, Free Arts has proudly transformed the lives of more than 133,000 children in Maricopa County. From an initial volunteer base of 5 individuals serving 50 children, Free Arts now employs 17 staff members and has more than 600 volunteers who serve over 6,000 children each year. Free Arts partners with 39 social service agencies at more than 100 locations throughout Maricopa County, Arizona to provide a unique combination of arts, a trauma-informed curriculum, and mentoring to children who are in out-of-home care.

Target demographics: transform children's trauma to resilience through the arts

Direct beneficiaries per year: Free Arts Served 6,300 children with more than 279 volunteer mentors.

Geographic areas served: Maricopa County Arizona

Programs: WEEKLY MENTOR PROGRAM – For up to 16 weeks, children at a single partner facility are paired with 1-2 adult volunteer mentors, who facilitate weekly sessions of intentional art activities. Through these sessions, children build trusting relationships with consistent and caring adults as well as with their peers. The activities also focus on process over product, asking children to reflect on their own identity and experiences. PROFESSIONAL ARTIST SERIES – For 2-3 weeks, children at a single partner facility learn a specific art form from a professional teaching artist. In 4-6 workshop sessions, artists and artist assistants help children build transferable skills and self-efficacy by encouraging them to explore their identity and feel confident in their decision-making. Children not only practice art skills, but social and coping skills as they practice collaborating with others and expressing themselves. Ultimately, children celebrate their accomplishments by showcasing their artwork at a culminating event. CAMP SERIES – For 1-2 weeks, children from multiple partner facilities come together in the spring or summer to explore their personal stories through a variety of art forms. Children spend each day collaborating and building relationships with professional teaching artists, artist assistants, camp counselors, and other participating children. The intentional structure is designed to help children feel a sense of community in a safe environment while learning to express themselves in new ways. Ultimately, children share their stories and showcase their new skills in a culminating event. Types of Camp include Theater, Multicultural Arts, Hip Hop, and Leadership. FREE ARTS DAYS – For one day, children from multiple partner facilities gather at an arts and culture organization where they participate in intentional art activities and connect with caring adults. Groups of volunteers facilitate these activities and create a safe and supportive environment for participating children, helping them feel a sense of community with their peers. There is also a specialized Free Arts Day for foster and kinship families. ALUMNI PROGRAM – Alumni are older teenagers and young adults (ages 14-25) who have participated in our Programs in the past. The Alumni Program was established to serve the Alumni who want to stay connected with Free Arts and each other, even though they no longer reside with a partner agency. Members have access to skill-building opportunities that include open studio hours, paid positions mentoring younger children in our Programs, and leadership opportunities in directing the goals and activities of the Alumni Program. For example, two Alumni members were part of the committee to hire a contracted therapist for Alumni.