December 2023

Dear Friends,

As the new year dawns upon us, the team at Art with a Heart would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering care, enthusiasm, interest, and support. We are deeply aware that without a strong and collaborative community like ours, Art with a Heart's 23-year journey (soon to be 24 years!) in Baltimore would not have been possible.

This newsletter will highlight the achievements of Art with a Heart in the past year and showcase the joyful visuals of our work. And our work is truly significant - we provided over 250,000 individual art experiences, beautified schools and public spaces through residencies, graduated a new cohort of leaders, and expanded our workforce collaborations. In addition, we successfully completed and installed numerous community art projects with the dedication of over 2,500 volunteers.

We are immensely grateful for your help in making all of this possible. Our dedicated Board, Advisory Board, Impressionists, teachers, assistants, interns, apprentices, and volunteers have played an integral role in our success. As we move forward, we hope that you will continue to support Art with a Heart in our mission to enhance the lives of people in need through visual art. You can donate any amount here.

Wishing you a safe and healthy new year filled with creativity, inspiration, and hope.

Thank you.

This past year has been a time of immense growth for students as they eagerly delved into the world of visual art, discovering more about themselves, their peers, renowned artists, and the world. With an open mind and an eagerness to learn, students fearlessly embraced new techniques and proudly identified as artists for the first time. Through the journey of creating art, they learned the valuable lessons of patience and resilience, realizing that beauty can be found in imperfection. Across its 11,504 classes, Art with a Heart has fostered an environment of creativity, reflection, and pure joy for all students involved. This incredible impact would not have been possible without the support of our 80 community partners, who have given Art with a Heart the opportunity to provide over 250,000 unique art experiences throughout the year. The consistency and dedication of our partners, along with the unwavering commitment of our 176 teachers and assistants, have been instrumental in empowering students of all ages. Art with a Heart's educators have truly exemplified their own passion for teaching, inspiring students with their utmost care and determination to see them flourish.

Throughout the year, Art with a Heart embarked on a series of special projects at various partner sites throughout the community. These engaging projects provided a platform for the city's youth and community members to participate in 11 artist residencies. Through these unique programs, participants not only learned specialized art techniques in various forms of media, but also discovered how to express themselves through meaningful community art. As a result, 10 stunning beautification pieces were created and made accessible to the public - including painted murals, ceramic masterpieces, and dazzling glass mosaics. Additionally, 115 exceptional student artworks are now proudly displayed in schools. These creations reflect the students' admiration for historical heroes, their advocacy for environmental stewardship, their celebration of cultural heritage, and their heartfelt tribute to a beloved member of their community.

A Look Back at Community Service and Public Art

It was a busy and productive year for the Community Service and Public Art team, with a total of 102 service groups and an impressive 2,547 volunteers generously contributing their time and effort to Art with a Heart. The impact of their hard work was significant, with a total of 10,400 service hours logged at Art with a Heart. To put this into perspective, it is equivalent to five full-time employees! Additionally, 15 public art projects were successfully completed in 2023, including a fourth sculpture for The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and the Art of Leadership Capstone mosaic at the Baltimore Convention Center. Other notable projects included colorful painted hearts for Johns Hopkins Hospital, a centennial sculpture for Catholic Charities, and 75th Anniversary mural for Beth El Congregation. We look forward to upcoming installations of the Ronald McDonald House mosaic in collaboration Constellation Energy and a large weaving for the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

In 2023, both HeARTworks and HeARTwares experienced tremendous growth. With 248 participants in the HeARTworks program, 55 interns, and over 1,200 products sold, the impact of these initiatives is undeniable. The hardworking HeARTworks participants dedicated a collective 11,000 hours to their projects, while interns contributed over 5,000 hours. The reach of the HeARTworks program expanded to local schools, collaborating with Baltimore City Public School System's Office of Special Education to support transitional programs such as Project SEARCH and Baltimore Transition Connection. The organization's partnership with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks' Design Studio program also resulted in a stunning new mural at the Harlem Park Recreation Center, showcasing the graphic design skills of our YouthWorks participants. Furthermore, HeARTworks provided 12 apprenticeships and full-year YouthWorkers, cementing their the program as a pioneer in youth workforce development. This success would not have been possible without the support of our 25 HeARTworks partners, including Adelante Latina, Christopher's Place, Itineris, Thread, Bridges, Youthworks, and many more.

The Art of Leadership program now boasts an alumni network of 151 leaders with the addition of the graduates in June 2023 from Cohort 8. In July 2023, Cohort 8 held a remarkable post-graduation ceremony at The Baltimore Convention Center, where they shared their emotional and impactful capstone project highlighting the Baltimore City Field Hospital's crucial role during the pandemic. Cohort 9, consisting of 19 bright high school students, joined the Art of Leadership program in August 2023 with enthusiasm and a collaborative spirit.

Over the last year, the Art of Leadership program underwent notable curriculum transformations, aiming to enhance participants' experiences and outcomes. Among the exciting changes was the addition of a media session that delved into biases, misinformation, cross-examination, prejudice, and the pros and cons of mass media. The focus of the mental health session shifted towards positive psychology, where students participated in a guided nature walk and activities at the scenic Cylburn Arboretum. Also, in a new and exciting addition, Laura Wexler from Stoop Storytelling conducted an inspiring 2-hour workshop for our Art of Leadership students who then shared personal stories with their peers.