Art Buddies

IN FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, ART BUDDIES SERVED OVER 200 CHILDREN, AGES 8-11, FROM HIGH NEED SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL. ART BUDDIES PROVIDES IT'S FREE CREATIVE MENTOR PROGRAMMING AND ART EDUCATION TO SCHOOLS AT WHICH AT LEAST 75% OF THE STUDENT BODY RECEIVES FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM, AS THE METRIC FOR POVERTY. ANY SCHOLAR AT A PARTICIPATING SCHOOL IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR FREE PROGRAM. 90% OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN WERE CHILDREN OF COLOR. WE RECRUITED 200 CREATIVE MENTORS TO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE CHILDREN. WE PRODUCED EIGHT AFTER- SCHOOL ART BUDDIES PROGRAMS, AT OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS: WHITTIER INTERNATIONAL ELEMENTARY, LUCY LANEY ELEMENTARY, HALL STEM ACADEMY, BANCROFT ELEMENTARY, ANDERSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND PATRICK HENRY HIGH SCHOOL SUPER SUMMER PROGRAM. OUR MENTORS HELPED THE CHILDREN DO THE FOLLOWING: 1. FORM A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A CREATIVE ADULT 2. DISCOVER THEIR CREATIVE POTENTIAL AND LEARN APPLIED ARTISTIC SKILLS 3. BOOST THEIR SELF-ESTEEM BY CREATING SOMETHING AMBITIOUS AND UNIQUE 4. INCREASE THEIR MOTIVATION TO LEARN BY GIVING THEM AN EXCITING REASON TO COME TO SCHOOL AND EXPLORE 5. LEARN THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF CONCEIVING, PLANNING AND PRODUCING 6. EXPLORE CREATIVE CAREER POSSIBILITIES THE CHILDRENS' TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS CONTINUALLY CONFIRM THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE ART BUDDIES PROGRAM. THE TEACHERS OBSERVED STUDENT IMPROVEMENT IN PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY, BEHAVIOR, ATTITUDE, MOTIVATION TO LEARN, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND SOCIAL SKILLS. THEY REPORT THE MASTERY STUDENTS DEVELOP IN ART BUDDIES, AS WELL AS THE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS THEY FORM WITH CREATIVE ADULTS THAT ENHANCE THEIR STUDENTS' SELF-ESTEEM.