Children’s Art Charities
Artistic expression is a seed planted within all of us, and the best time to cultivate that seed is when imagination shines the brightest.
Whether it’s playing pretend or coloring a picture, children show us that art is deeply intertwined with who we are as a species. That’s why children’s art charities are dedicated to promoting that internal creativity and teaching them about how vibrant the world can be.
There are many different kinds of children’s art charities throughout the United States. See our full list of children’s art charities at the bottom of this article.
Turning Dreams into Reality
For some children, artistic expression exists as merely a dream due to lack of supplies.
That’s where charities like the Dreaming Zebra Foundation come in.
They take in donations of art and music supplies and distribute them to communities in need. They even prepare home art kits so that creativity can emerge from both home and the classroom.
The Tools for Teaching
Some charities, such as the National Arts Education Association (NAEA), offer tools and lesson plans to help advance art education in schools from pre-k to university. They offer their members both a platform to learn about visual arts, design and media arts, as well as to exhibit their own artistic pieces. The NAEA Professional Learning Studio also offers webinars and other virtual events that serve to empower art educators across the country.
From Visions to Careers
For teenagers, the idea of turning their art into a career is enticing, but how do they make it happen? The YoungArts organization serves to help young artists blossom into their craft and invests in their future. This organization holds competitions to seek out the best young artists across the nation. The winners receive both financial awards as well as mentorship opportunities with leaders of their respected fields. YoungArts offers programs designed to advance careers and build up networking opportunities for the next generation of artists.
A Spectrum of Opportunities
Children’s art charities help our youth in so many ways. Some put paintbrushes into the hands of children who would never have had the opportunity before. Some empower educators so that they can reach into the young minds of their students and pull forth that creativity. And some help turn that creativity into a long and fulfilling career. Through these charities and programs, we can rest assured that the youth of today will help shape a more beautiful future.
Children’s Art Charities List
Americans for the Arts – Provides resources for advancing art and art education in the United States.
Arts Connection – Provides art education programs to the public schools in San Bernardino County.
Dreaming Zebra Foundation – A nonprofit that encourages children to embrace creativity and follow their artistic dreams.
Give Kids Art – Give Kids Art provides art programs to ignite creative exploration and self-expression in underserved children living in Los Angeles and beyond.
Healing and Education Through the Arts (HEART) – The Healing and Education through the Arts (HEART) program is an arts-based approach to providing psychosocial support for children, youth, and adults around the world.
International Children’s Art Foundation (ICAF) – ICAF has served American children as their national arts organization and the world’s children as their global arts organization since 1997. ICAF inspires students to boldly step beyond the boundaries set before them to improve the world.
National Art Education Association (NAEA ) – A leading organization dedicated to promoting art education across the United States.
Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership (PAEP) – Promotes life-long learning in and through the arts for Pre-K to grade 12 students, seniors, and special populations in schools and community sites throughout southeastern Pennsylvania.
Sunflower Creative Arts – The mission of Sunflower Creative Arts is to empower Florida children and families to be confident, creative and compassionate through Play, Nature and the Arts.
YoungArts – An organization that nurtures and promotes young artists across the country.
Young Audiences Arts for Learning – An arts-in-education network dedicated to inspire and educate young people through the arts.