News

Canvas Rebel Interview: A Deeper Look Into GKA

In our recent interview with Canvas Rebel, our newest team member, SJ Spreng, opens up about the journey behind Give Kids Art. From its founding to pivotal moments of adapting to meet the evolving needs of the kids we serve, this conversation sheds light on the heart and resilience of our mission. We invite you to dive into the stories that continue to inspire our work and drive our passion for empowering young artists.

One particular student, a 10-year-old named Max, came to GKA’s program with little exposure to art, feeling unsure of himself and hesitant to participate... Throughout his time in our program, Max began to grow excited about the idea of making “mistakes” in his art, eventually telling SJ that he loves to turn something that was a mistake into something else beautiful. By the end of the 10-week program, Max developed confidence, improved his emotional expression, and built a sense of community with the other children. Not only this, but he sought out to create his own comic book featuring the character designs he started developing during his free time at school.
— SJ Spreng
 

Shoutout LA Interview: Kara Anton Unveils the Heart of Give Kids Art

In this illuminating interview with Shoutout LA, our Founder and President, Kara Anton, unveils the profound mission driving our organization, offering insights into the inspirations that fuel her dedication. Join us as we explore the heart and soul behind Give Kids Art.

I’ve seen firsthand how art empowers children to communicate, to heal, to grow, to be bold, and to dream beyond their immediate circumstances. Art is a universal language that transcends age, background, and socio-economic status, offering a sanctuary of self-discovery and expression.
— Kara Anton, Founder & President of Give Kids Art
 

Bringing the Joy of Art to Summer Camps

Thanks To Two Successful Partnerships

This summer, Give Kids Art has been incredibly fortunate to continue its partnerships with two amazing organizations in Southern California. Working closely with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica and the City of Inglewood, our organization was able to bring our enriching art programming and art supplies to 160 children cumulatively who participated in their summer camp programs across multiple locations.

Give Kids Art has had the pleasure of collaborating with these two organizations before. However, this summer was particularly special as we introduced our comprehensive training program to both of their dedicated staff. These talented teams skillfully facilitated our 8-week Give Kids Art curriculum, allowing us to reach more children and spread our art activities.

At Give Kids Art, we have always prioritized fostering social-emotional development through the arts. Our process-based activities and prompts provide a platform for these young artists to express themselves and tap into their inner creativity. We are proud to see the positive impact art has on the children, as they explore their artistic abilities and develop essential life skills.

Take a look at more photos from these summer programs and learn more here and here.

To support our partners, Give Kids Art provides comprehensive support, including training for staff or volunteers, training documents, a curated curriculum tailored to different age groups, detailed instructions for each activity, and a set of slides for visual aids. Moreover, we ensure that all necessary art supplies are sourced and delivered promptly to the partner organizations, ensuring a seamless and enriching Give Kids Art experience for all participants.

Our campers have enjoyed each moment that they were able to spend completing your planned activities as they learned new things or found a liking to something they were previously not interested in. We would not have been able to provide an amazing summer program without your continued support of our campers!
— Tyler, City of Inglewood Recreation Leader & Summer Program Coordinator

As we reflect on this summer's partnerships, Give Kids Art is grateful for the opportunity to bring the joy of art to children in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica and the City of Inglewood. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with these incredible organizations and expanding our reach to more communities in the future.

To learn more about Give Kids Art and inquire about partnering with us for any season, please visit our partner page or contact us directly. If you’re a curious parent and want to bring Give Kids Art programming to your local community, please share our information and offerings with nonprofits in your area, such as your local Boys & Girls Club.

Together, let's inspire and empower young artists through the transformative power of art!

Community Support! Free Art Kits Given to Children of the Colorado Wildfires

Our friends in Colorado – husband and wife duo, Aaron & Rupal Deitz – recently made and delivered about 50 Art Kits to families and children displaced by the recent Colorado wildfires. The fires destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and forced tens of thousands to evacuate in Boulder County, Colorado. You can more read about the devastation here.

Our volunteer friends knew of families affected by the fires, who lost their homes in Superior and Louisville, CO and wanted to help their community! We sent them all the art supplies and instructions to make the Art Kits. Then, they passed out the Art Kits personally at Superior Elementary School on Saturday, January 15th.

Rupal Deitz, MSN, C-PNP – a local Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Children's Hospital Colorado, an amazing mother and friend – spearheaded the initiative, organized the distribution spot, and promoted the drop, reaching out to local organizations to help spread the word! With sincere gratitude, we say THANK YOU!

Each Art Kit included:

  • 1 40-Page 9x12 Paper Pad

  • 1 8x10 Canvas Panel

  • 1 Give Kids Art “What’s In Your Heart” Activity Worksheet

  • 1 Kraft Journal

  • 1 Box of Crayons (8ct)

  • 1 Colored Pencil Set (12ct)

  • 1 Color Swell Marker Set (8ct)

  • 1 Color Swell Watercolor Set with Brush

  • 1 Extra Blue Paint Brush

  • 1 Extra Foam Paint Brush

  • 1 No. 2 Pencil

  • 1 Pencil Sharpener

  • 1 Roll of Washi Tape

  • 1 Sharpie Pen

  • 2 Glitter Glue Pens

  • 2 Clay Model Magic Packets

  • 2 Wood Star Shapes to Decorate

  • 1 Small Container of Slime

Interested in working with us to distribute more Art Kits in Colorado? Please contact us here.

Interested in making and distributing Art Kits in your community or as part of a local relief effort? We’d love to chat! Please fill out the form on this page, and we’ll get back to you shortly.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our First News Feature!

Exciting news! We were featured on the front page of the Santa Monica Daily Press on Saturday, April 25th. See how we’re helping kids create fearlessly while at home!

Coronavirus Update

To our supporters and friends, we hope you are staying safe and positive during this time.

Given the current state of affairs with Coronavirus, we have taken all art programming virtual. We are carefully monitoring the situation and will resume on-site programming when everything is safe for all involved.

We are currently making and delivering Art Kits to children in the underprivileged communities we serve. These kits are full of essential art supplies to keep the kids entertained at home and creating fearlessly for weeks. Just $10 gives one kid an Art Kit! We’re working with partner organizations to safely deliver these art kits at “Grab & Go” food centers.

Help From a Distance:

If you have magazines, we always need clippings and cut-outs for collage making! #QuarantineAndChill Find a good Netflix movie, and enjoy some sip and clip time. You can mail us the materials.

Also, you can make Give Kids Art your charity of choice on AmazonSmile! Go to smile.amazon.com

In the meantime, please stay connected and follow us on instagram @GiveKidsArt.