Organizational History

ARTreach was established in 2003 to bring the arts to the underprivileged, with a leaning towards programs serving abused and abandoned children in residential treatment, children at risk in the school district, and neglected elderly citizens in public care nursing homes. The table below shows the progression in size of our budget, as the size and scope of our organization has grown:

Operating Year
ARTreach Funds
Raised/Spent
2004...$44,243
2005...$53,537
2006...$84,026
2007...$96,932
2008...$71,977
2009...$99,000
2010...$230,000

ARTreach employs an Executive Director and contracts Development support, Community Relations and a Volunteer Coordinator part time and as needed.  Additional Accounting and Marketing services are contracted. ARTreach hosts a roster of professional and qualified teaching artists to support specific programming serving special needs and at risk populations.  ARTreach has an executive board which inlcudes a President, VP, Treasurer and Secretary who chair (2) board committees to support fundraising and programs. The board includes up to 24 advisors representing annual active agency partnerships.

A key to our success has been establishing active partnerships with our social service organizations, juvenile probation departments and independent school districts and collaborating with funders, artists, and volunteers to serve. ARTreach supports the development by securing local, private and state financial support to offset the costs of quality art programs. Our board is guided by a growing list of agency and campus advisors that inform ARTreach staff of their needs. Specialized art programs are developed and piloted to measure improvements in behavior, grades or social skills, recovery and/or health. Our budgets are established annually based on advisors input and program outcomes. We are building relationships within the agency and school district administrations (directors, superintendents, principals, teachers, social workers) and together identify key liaisons that will help support our ARTreach directors and teaching artists in the delivery and evaluation of the programs which we provide.

Agency and Campus Partnerships

The following is a list of ARTreach partner Agencies and Campuses:

Katy ISD- 2010 campus partners include Mayde Creek Elementary, Morton Ranch Junior High, Raines High School, McRoberts Elementary, Schmalz Elementary, as well individual campuses in Houston ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Klein ISD, Cy-Fair ISD and expanding ISD partnerships in the Woodlands and Austin area. ARTreach also has active agency partnerships with Fort Bend Probation Department, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department and Youth Correctional Facilities, Catholic Charities, Mamie George Communtiy Center, Rio Bend Community, Refugee Resettlements, DePelchin Children's Center, We Care Residential Treatment Center, AIDS Foundation of Houston, Pregnancy Help Center, Spring Branch Behavioral Coalition, Palmer Drug Abuse Program, Systems of Hope (Children's Protective Services), Child Advocates. ARTreach resources link to the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Agency and Campus Advisor Roles

ARTreach designs and delivers the programs that benefit children and adults in all categories represented by our agency and campus partners. Agency and campus advisors feed into the development of new programs and identify the children, adults, or the classroom populations that will benefit from ARTreach programs and services.

Annual Advisors Meeting

Every year ARTreach hosts a community forum that invites agency and campus advisors to meet with the staff and Board of Directors. This is a round table discussion aimed at identifying needs within the community. Attendees from the school district and local social service agencies express a range of concerns related to children at risk, gang related activity, school drop out rates, drugs and crime, student apathy, domestic violence, sexual assault, teen pregnancy, young parenting issues, negative influences, the neglected emotional well being of the elderly, educational issues associated with mentally retarded adults, special needs, bullying, suicide, cracks in the educational or foster care system, latch key kids, summer program needs, continuing education, and equal access issues.
This meeting is the motivating influence that directs the focus of ARTreach board of directors and staff. Our organization's response is to come up with ways the community can build awareness, intervene, or support prevention, and to develop creative art-related programs incorporating mentors and positive role models that fit into an overall solution framework.

Art Partnerships

Our ART Partnerships include a list of local and independent artists who donate time and studio teaching hours and art groups that include Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center, Several Dancers Core, Young Audiences, Texas Commission on the Arts

Volunteer Involvement
The ARTreach organization relies on community volunteers for support and special project assistance. ARTreach has an active volunteer network and partners with service organizations including National Charity League, Katy and Azalea Chapters, Churches, PTAs, National Honor Society and corporations to provide interactive and engaging opportunities for volunteers. Many ARTreach volunteers are child advocates working to increase social awareness for abused and neglected children, and are strong advocates for the arts-in-education.

Community Venue Partnerships

Facilities and businesses donate space for off-site workshops, special projects, community events, student exhibitions, and other activities. Examples include Villagio Town Center, and LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, Houston Community College, the Holocaust Museum Houston, Katy ISD, YMCAs, and other local businesses. Corporate address and meeting space is donated to ARTreach by Fala Creative. This donation supports our operations and helps our organization bridge and extend much needed services from Katy to the Greater Fort Bend area. ARTreach Venue partnerships include Villagio Town Center, Katy Heritage Park, Ceramics by Tess, "V" the Gallery at Villagio, The Warehouse in NW Houston, with studio and gallery space donated to support ARTreach Community Programs.