2006 Coming Up Taller Awards

Art at the Heart Intervention Hope
Southwest Arkansas Arts Council

It seems fitting that the Southwest Arkansas Arts Council’s after-school and summer arts programs began in the town of Hope, Arkansas. Through Art at the Heart and Intervention Hope, at-risk students ages 6–18 receive the opportunity to engage in a wide range of artistic pursuits and community activities that provide a sense of place and possibility.

In an area that is largely rural, with high rates of poverty and underachievement, these programs benefit children and teens who are not likely to succeed in school. Art at the Heart offers students afternoon art classes for six weeks, during the summer. These classes introduce them to a rich variety of art forms, including painting, photography, poetry, theater production, bookmaking, puppetry, beading, drawing, and dance.

Local professional teacher artists instruct all of the classes, which culminate in a public performance or exhibition, showcasing the students’ achievements. The young participants of DrumBallet—the program’s most popular and visible success—work with a Ghanaian djembe drummer. Dubbed “the ambassadors of Hope,” the troupe has performed at prestigious gatherings across the state, including the opening of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.The artists who facilitate Intervention Hope, the Council’s after-school program, mentor students throughout the school year. During periodic residencies, students receive 20 hours of arts instruction per week. As with Art at the Heart, a public presentation of students’ work concludes each residency. Through these exhibitions, participants gain recognition and respect from teachers, family members, and peers.

Recognizing the challenges that these young people face, both programs offer a safe haven where participants can demonstrate what they have learned, improve their communication skills, build self esteem, and meet academic goals necessary to their future success. Program evaluations show improvements in both school attendance (70 percent) and academic grades (85 percent) among participants. Such encouraging results illustrate the remarkable power of these programs to change the lives of their young participants and restore hope to the community.

Southwest Arkansas Arts Council
P.O. Box 1004
Hope, AR 71802
Phone: 870-777-8200
E-mail: swaac@arkansas.net
Focus: Multidisciplinary
Annual Number Participating: 450
Ages: 6–18
Annual Budget: $43,328

“Southwest Arkansas Arts Council has achieved wonderful results with its after-school and summer programs for at-risk youth. As a result of these programs, the children’s school attendance and grades improved when they were participating in the program, and at the same time, they were developing artistic skills that will serve them their entire lives.”

Mike Huckabee, Governor, State of Arkansas