For Youth to freely imagine and create a world that is just and harmonious. Visit: www.ArtVanProgram.org to learn more.
The ArtVan Program began in 2004 in collaboration with the City of Bath’s Community Development Office to bring free arts to two low-income Bath housing developments, with the mission to enrich the lives of youth who did not have access to recreational activities in Bath, Maine. Encouraged by high attendance levels, enthusiastic participants, and grateful parents, we continued our services with several grant awards and community support.
During 2006 and 2007, ArtVan expanded to the “Tree Street” low-income housing neighborhood in Lewiston, two housing developments in Auburn, a subsidized Brunswick housing development (Perryman Village), and a low-income neighborhood of Biddeford, Maine. In June of 2011, after six years of successful programming through Volunteers of America and VSA Maine, ArtVan incorporated as a State of Maine non-profit. Awaiting approval from IRS for 501c3 tax-exempt status, Joyful Harvest in Biddeford, Me., served as ArtVan’s Fiscal Sponsor. On Dec. 12 2012 ArtVan was approved its 501c3.
We 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.
ArtVan is a free mobile arts therapy program that brings the arts in a colorful painted van to children, teens, and adults who have the least amount of social services, after school and summer activities available to them. ArtVan provides the arts as a form of expression to safely communicate thoughts, feelings and ideas into tangible works of art.
