Hello, friends! Vice President of Programs, Matt Sandoval, here. I wanted to share an update on the progress of the Canvas of the Heart podcast for Free Arts. I’m happy to report that we have successfully completed the podcast’s first season! Throughout the summer, we were able to feature a diverse group of guests who...
Behind the curtain, the stage was filled with props and youthful anticipation, against a sparkling backdrop. Young voices filled the air as they nervously shuffled their feet and took their places. As the lights went down, a calm quiet replaced the backstage buzz.
By Gabriella, Alumni Mentor My name is Gabriella, but my Free Arts family calls me Gabs. Free Arts is a nonprofit organization that builds hope and heals children’s trauma through artistic expression. I know this because I was a participant. I’ve been involved with Free Arts since 2012, when I was twelve years old. I’m...
By Kim Valentine, Free Arts intern and volunteer mentor This past March, Free Arts kicked off its annual Camp Series with a new addition to our programming: The Art of Leadership Camp. This camp was designed for the teens to learn about what it takes to be a strong leader and how to utilize the...
On Saturday, June 30th, Free Arts held the culminating performance of our 18th annual Theater Camp at the Herberger Center in downtown Phoenix. The Theater Camp, themed “Road to Resilience,” brought together 30 teens from foster care group homes, shelters, and treatment centers and immersed them in the art of theater. In the first week of...
In the summer of 2017, Niya was 14 and living at The Salvation Army homeless shelter with her mom, two sisters, and her brother. Some tough life challenges left the family without a permanent place to stay and in need of help. Niya had a difficult time adjusting to the change. She had feelings of...
As the Free Arts team delves further into summer and wraps up the final installment of their Camp Series, I reflect on the significance of the experiences at camp and how they fulfill the Free Arts mission. The Free Arts program team worked tirelessly to make sure that all camp activities ran as planned, and...
2017 Multicultural Arts Camp (MAC) just completed its 21st year. This year Free Arts served over 150 children over two weeks. Participating children learned Tibetan Arts, Latin Arts, World Music, Spoken Word, and Swing Dance. Each day children were welcomed by 20 adult mentors who provided a safe, healing environment where the children could freely express themselves....
