Connecting people to the arts

Like many Colorado nonprofits, ArtReach is a fledgling organization with an ambitious vision – in this case, transforming lives through exposing disadvantaged children, families and seniors to the arts.

Partnerships have made all the difference. Nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity and Volunteers of America, help ArtReach distribute 50,000 tickets donated annually. And ArtReach exposes kids from low-income households to everything from art classes to live theatre to museum exhibits. They also have the opportunity to attend a summer camp focused on the visual and performing arts.

In addition to providing grants for ArtReach programs, The Denver Foundation has stepped in to offer strategic guidance, technical assistance and other support at key points in the group’s development. ArtReach also strives to bring the arts to 10,000 underserved children and youth in schools, transitional housing and other settings each year.

How? ArtReach makes it possible for artists to visit youth correctional centers in the Denver Metro area to teach poetry, storytelling and drawing, with each teenager producing a book at the end of the series. Performing artists also help kids work through problems by writing plays, acting and doing monologues. “To be able to go into a lock-down facility for juvenile offenders, build trust and give these kids access to the arts is very powerful,” says Karla Johnson-Grimes, ArtReach executive director. “They both can learn about art and learn to speak about their troubles through the arts.”

Johnson-Grimes views her group’s relationship with foundations as a true partnership. “We are using their guidance and support to benefit the community,” she said. “We are really just the vehicle to allow the funders to make that impact.”