ARTS-KIDS INC

Carl (not his real name) was ten when he started Arts-Kids in Park City in the fall of fifth grade. The school guidance counselor referred him to the program when his father left the family. He was very artistic and attended every session until the following year when he began to seek out activities and kids who seemed to him “more cool.”

He was suspended for threatening to “kill” boys in his class who were calling him names. When he stole a snowboard from a boy who was giving him trouble, the Park City police became involved. His mother asked the founder of Arts-Kids to meet with her, the principal and the police to design a disciplinary plan. Carl agreed to return to Arts-Kids because he said art made him feel good about himself. Carl stayed in touch with the staff of Arts-Kids until he graduated from high school and went to culinary school.

Arts-Kids was founded in 1999 by Pat Drewry Sanger, an Advanced Practice Psychiatric-Mental Health Registered Nurse and Child/Adolescent Specialist. Arts-Kids knows that great kids sometimes face challenging obstacles. We believe the arts form a bridge between boundaries of language, ethnicity, socio-economic status, age and education. We emphasize process over technique and focus on personal growth rather than on any specific artistic end product. Anyone can be successful!

Purposes

To build communication, problem solving, listening and social skills

To foster confidence and self-esteem in a non-competitive creative environment

To promote empathy among diverse populations ages 8-17

To build positive relationships with adult role models

To balance individuality with a sense of global community

Arts-Kids offers facilitator-led programs to small groups of children and teens. There is no fee to participants, so all children can participate regardless of a family's ability to pay. Each 2.5 hour session begins and ends with a group circle where each child's voice is heard, communication skills are strengthened, personal motivation is enhanced, respect for others is forged, and a sense of community is fostered. Each week, a different guest artist shares artistic experience and encourages the creative process in a variety of mediums. Other communities and organizations can adopt the model through out professional training programs.