A Safe Place To Create
Art Garage Partners With ARK
By Rocco Orlando
The Art Garage has become a Park Hill institution. Recently, the Art Garage acquired another thriving young nonprofit, Art Reaching Kids, to bolster the positive work being done with youth and the neighborhood, as well as Denver as a whole. The partnership is still in its infancy, but has already proven to be effective and rewarding for the young people it serves and the individuals who work with them.
Art Reaching Kids, ARK, works with at-risk youth residing in residential treatment centers in the Denver area. Steve Tracy, a professional artist, and Janine Sturdavant, a teacher, geologist and artist, founded ARK in 2007. ARK aims to improve the self-worth of struggling young individuals through the creation of art.
Once the masterpieces created by these young adults are completed they are sold at auction, providing adolescents with the opportunity to verbalize the meaning and impact of their work. The proceeds are then placed towards items geared to increase independent living and budgeting skills.
“I am pleased that the Art Garage has acquired the ARK program,” says Katie Moran, executive director of the Art Garage. “We plan to continue the wonderful work ARK has done as an independent nonprofit while simultaneously enhancing it by introducing a variety of art methodologies and mediums to youth in residential treatment centers.
“The Art Garage serves as a safe place of all people to visually express themselves under the guidance of our instructors.”
ARK’s programmatic values are similar to those of the Art Garage, thus making the merge of the two nonprofits smooth and effective. The positive opportunities provided by ARK are important to the long-term success of the youth it serves. Self-esteem, positive self-image, and a sense of accomplishment are some of the beneficial outcomes. Externally, the program provides skills in oral communication, salesmanship, and budgeting.
The therapeutic value of art, in and of itself, cannot be understated. Learning about and practicing a variety of visual art has been proven time and time again to foster brain activity in adolescents. The Art Garage designs all of its programming with the aim of introducing new art skills while honing existing talents through classes that both challenge and stimulate individuals.
Both the Art Garage and ARK have placed community involvement and giving back to individuals at the core of their values. It is exciting to think about how far they will continue to push the limits of altruism and serving those in need.
Note: Summer camp information and other available Art Garage programs can be found online, at artgaragedenver.com.