Our Impact Areas

The people who work with the kids every day — teachers, caregivers, and parents — confirm the positive impact of Art Buddies. Over the years, here is what they’ve told us:

Art Buddies empowers kids

Teachers tell us that by forming a positive relationship with a creative mentor, someone who nurtures their spirits and teaches them applied artistic skills, that the kids get a big boost in self-esteem. The Art Buddies experience helps kids build a foundation of creative confidence!

Art Buddies teaches kids the value of creativity

Teachers and business leaders understand the value of creativity — to innovate, communicate, solve problems, and pursue possibilities.

Students are excited to learn how adults use creativity in careers like graphic design, architecture, advertising, and game design. Kids are fascinated to learn that the games they play, the ads they see, the chair they sit in, and the design on their clothes all represent jobs that they might want to do one day.

Art Buddies increases school attendance

Our program is so popular with students, school attendance goes UP on Art Buddies days. One teacher said, “All week long, the kids talked about how excited they were to see their Art Buddy again.”

The After-School coordinator told us we had the highest attendance rate of all their programs — which is rare for a group as large as ours.

Art Buddies improves behavior and social skills

Teachers are impressed by the leadership aspects of Art Buddies. Kids taking the lead in the class creates and atmosphere that is joyful and focused.

“Kids who were having a horrible day — suddenly perk up at the door to Art Buddies. I think it’s the one-on-one attention. They really love that,” said one teacher, but then again, who doesn’t?

Art Buddies helps kids plan ahead and stay on task

Teachers report that students gain valuable problem solving skills in Art Buddies by learning to create and execute a plan, by building a creative brief, and by learning to focus on a task over a long period of time.

“It is invaluable to learn how to plan a project based on your own imagination,” one teacher told us. “The goal-setting and execution skills they develop in Art Buddies can help them succeed in life.”