A community endeavor in visual arts
Art Reaching Today's Youth, Inc. (ARTY) strives to fill a void in elementary education where the odds are slim that visual arts programs can be restored for the children that once had them. From the outset of this effort, we have understood the importance of relationships with our partners and the fact that together we can accomplish much more than we could individually. ARTY is grateful to Broward County Schools, the Broward Education Foundation, area educators and parents for their support. In addition, we are committed to building community awareness of this outreach, and we invite civic organizations, local businesses, neighborhoods, and individuals to join us in underwriting the cost of our program.
Literacy Through the Arts
This summer, ARTY is working with the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Recreation Department to present Literacy Through the Arts, a combination of summer camp art class and language arts experience in which each youngster completes a project and receives a brand-new book. The goal is to have our project-based learning activity reinforce the child's interest in reading and strengthen this particular academic skill. As always, we deliver the classes at each of the city's summer camp sites using our Arty Van Gogh mobile studio, which has work space on board and room for about 25 children.
To date, we have had nearly 5,000 Broward County youngsters participate in Literacy Through the Arts and we are constantly looking for ways to expand it. We are especially grateful to The Jim Moran Foundation for its generous financial support of this program.
Leadership team
ARTY's board of directors is composed of educators, artists, and community leaders who share an interest in children and know the importance of the visual arts in the youngsters' academic and social development. The executive team is led by artist and art teacher Libby Hodges, who has worked professionally as a designer and exhibiting artist at shows and juried competitions throughout the U.S. For more than 16 years, Libby has been an art teacher at Tropical Elementary School, where she is introducing a new generation of artists to the world of creative expression.
You can help
ARTY, a tax-exempt nonprofit under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, has volunteer opportunities for individuals who enjoy working with children and would like to help with our program. For information, email Libby at the link here.
Financial support from private foundations and individuals enables us to continue providing ARTY's unique instructional program. Send your tax-deductible donation to Art Reaching Today's Youth, Inc., 11050 SW 11th Place, Davie, FL 33324.