By ensuring that children have the opportunity to explore, experience, and engage in diverse visual expressions, ARTsmart provides a constructive learning environment that fosters creative thinking, encourages individuality, and supports critical analysis. ARTsmart programs reduce truancy, improve grades, and inspire the realization of dreams, which positively impacts students, families, and communities. Short-term goals are that students will receive a high-quality arts education free of charge that will keep them safe, engaged and learning during the critical non-student hours when risky behavior tends to increase. Long-term goals are that our students will develop more refined aesthetic appreciation and artistic mastery; improve skills in various artistic media and techniques, in critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, literacy and language; and exhibit positive social behaviors and life skills such as multicultural understanding, tolerance, patience and respect as well as increased self-awareness, self-expression and self-confidence.
