The Tulsa Girls Art School (TGAS) is a Tulsa based nonprofit organization that acts as an after school visual arts program for underserved elementary, middle and high school girls attending inner-city schools in the community.
In 2007, Mona Pittenger and Matt Moffett co-founded the Tulsa Girls Art School. Today, TGAS continues to develop and evolve into one of the most unique art organizations in Tulsa.
Each year TGAS partners with one elementary school in the Tulsa Public Schools district, focusing on those located in the urban areas of Tulsa, and in close proximity to downtown. We select 12 girls from the third grade to form the "Beginners" class. Each girl is interviewed and recommended by their art teacher, homeroom teacher and principal of her school.
After completing one year in the program, the girls are invited to continue their involvement by joining the "Intermediate," and eventually the "Advanced" class, in which they may participate in until graduation from high school.
TGAS aims to develop its students' understanding and appreciation of art and the life of an artist. By cultivating strong leadership skills and promoting responsible financial management, the girls are encouraged to see themselves as both artists and life-long participants in the arts community.
The program is completely funded through donations, which provides our students—free of charge—with transportation to and from class, in addition to all the supplies needed to create works of art in a multitude of different mediums.
TGAS holds three art shows each year, where we transform our art studio into a gallery. The events are open to the public, and guests are able meet the young artists themselves, and purchase their one of a kind masterpieces! A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each girl's work is placed into a micro bank account, monitored by TGAS. Beyond learning to responsibly manage their personal finances, the savings allow the girls to purchase art supplies, not provided by the school, to build their own personal collection of tools. The funds can also be used to pay for museum and gallery admittance, to cover entry fees for any art contests they wish to enter, or, when the time comes, to help sponsor the costs associated with college applications and ACT/SAT admissions tests.
If you have any other questions about the program, please feel free to ask! We are happy to answer them!
The Tulsa Girls Art School Project, Inc. empowers underserved girls through visual arts education in a supportive environment teaching financial and management skills.
