Mission
ArtVan is a mobile arts therapy organization whose mission is to provide a creative and collaborative environment to encourage youth who have little or no arts access to fully express their imaginations, relationships and experiences within themselves, among their peers and across our communities. We bring arts to the people in our colorful painted van to those who have the least amount of social services, after school and summer activities available to them.
The art making process provides a tangible means to transform ideas, feelings, and stories. Our work is integral in enabling individuals to make sense of the world around them. The art making process is a direct way to:
- channel feelings
- adjust to new circumstances
- come up with creative solutions to problems
ArtVan is not just about the art. We also build trust, create healthy relationships and encourage healthy risk taking behavior.
As one young ArtVan participant stated, “I can draw and paint whatever i feel, because when i try to explain it, no one gets it.”
