Mentoring through Art

“The aim of an artist is not to solve a problem irrefutably, but to make people love life in all its countless inexhaustible manifestations”

Leo Tolstoy

Mentoring through Art is an ARTreach program that supports children at risk and Title 1 schools in Katy, Greater Fort Bend County and Houston.  Numerous schools and many students benefitted from Mentoring through Art programs developed and delivered by ARTreach this year.  These are mentoring programs; one on one and small group residencies that are designed to build relationships between artists, students and the community.  The program will uncover talent, or introduce a new skill to a child.

Many of our Mentoring through Art programs will involve a professional artist and an entire school in creating something amazing - a large mural, or a legacy masterpiece that everyone owns and respects. Students take responsibility; they work as a team and individually  contribute to the creation of something that is bold and amazing - the result makes an impact on their community, and leaves behind a lasting statement of value and integrity. It’s an eye-opening experience for many when they learn how easy it is to make something great happen when you work together as a team and share the responsibility by helping.

It is a central ARTreach philosophy - that by sharing the responsibility and working together as a team, we can make good things happen.  We are creative people, community members, teachers, school administrators, quality program providers, funders and supporters – and we share the responsibility for educating and caring for our children, our community and our future.

Making it Better - This year ARTreach, Making it Better and Texas Commission on the Arts worked together to provide mentoring and art to children at risk in Houston ISD. The children Making it Better serves are living in poverty and are right here in our midst. These are "our" children. Many children benefited from the life skills and discipline the arts provide. TCA Funding support was matched by Making it Better and ARTreach to serve students in three Houston schools and housing complexes this past semester.

Katy ISD Mentoring through Art initiatives can be seen at Schmaltz Elementary and McRoberts Elementary. These are 65’ SMART murals that were made possible by ARTreach and grants from foundations and corporations supporting the arts in underserved schools this year.  Mentoring through Art - SMART Murals are legacy masterpieces that integrate (TEKS) curriculum to help students learn about science, the rainforest and earth’s life cycles. The creation of these murals relied on a skilled teaching artist, and hundreds of involved students, teachers, parents and community members. Thank you to everyone who donated time and donated dollars.

Together we created this, and it is easy to see this is good. What do you want to do together next?

Volunteering Makes a Difference
ARTreach is seeking art volunteers to support Mentoring through Art programs in 2011. Contact Terri Bieber, t.bieber@artreachonline.org to discuss creative volunteer opportunities in this area.