Our Mission
The mission of ArtBridge is to provide high quality expressive arts programs to homeless children within a supportive and creative environment. ArtBridge encourages self-expression and nurtures imagination, hope and self-esteem while combating the despair of homelessness.
Year in Review: 2010
Attendance Count: 5,355 child participants
Number of Art Therapy Sessions: 14 sessions per week with over 600 total sessions
Number of Shelters: 11, including our newest addition Covenant House
Locations: the greater Houston area
Where We Work: Our programs extend to long-term shelters, short-term shelters, transitional living apartments, women’s shelters, and psychiatric centers. These include:
Boys and Girls Country • Corder Place • Covenant House • Houston Area Women’s Center
DePelchin Richmond Residential Treatment Center • DePelchin Isabel Elkins Residential Treatment Center
A Friendly Haven • Harris County Psychiatric Center • House of Tiny Treasures • Mission of Yahweh
Star of Hope Crisis Center •Star of Hope Transitional Living Center
Number of Facilitators: 7
Number of Volunteers: 24 per week (mandatory training sessions held each quarter)
Educational Support:
• provided ACT prep sessions
• application and transportation assistance for testing at Yellowstone Academy
• connected students to Communities In Schools
• 4 scholarships, transportation and supplies to the Junior School at Glassell School of Art for children at A Friendly Haven, Corder Place and Star of Hope Crisis Center
Special Projects:
• a photography field trip to the Bayou Bend*
• a photography field trip to the Children’s Museum of Houston*
• a photography field trip to Rice University Art Gallery: El Anatsui*
• a photography scavenger hunt field trip to the Urban Harvest Farmers Market*
• a week-long, intensive photography workshop at Covenant House
• adoption of a family at Christmas
• a Christmas party at Bayou Bend for DePelchin Richmond children
*Each field trip involves going to the featured destination followed by a lunch outing.
Exhibitions:
• a permanent photography exhibition installed at Covenant House
• children’s artwork on display at The Coalition for the Homeless’s annual meeting
Culinary Arts:
• emphasized health and nutrition through cooking classes during weekly sessions
• prepared/served a homemade Thanksgiving dinner for 50 people
Luncheon:
• our first annual luncheon honoring guest speaker Marianne Williamson
Partnerships:
• teamed with the Brazilian Arts Foundation for music and capoeira workshops
• BBVA Compass’s exchange program visitors taught children about Spain
• collaborated with Nameless Sound music sessions for preschool students
Artwork
