Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Artists First uses a creative approach that allows for genuine community integration and is in response to community needs specifically of equity and equality. Artists First addresses the social issue of equity not only distinct to St. Louis, but prevalent nationally. Artists First’s Open Studio program and community initiatives address cultural and economic segregation while bringing together diverse individuals. Artists First uses the visual arts as a way to meet inequities specifically with disenfranchised populations. Artists First is open to all however we do focus on under served populations including individuals with disabilities, veterans, youth and elders with memory loss.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Adult Open Studio
The Adult Open Studio fosters independence through creative self-expression for adults with pervasive mental illness, developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury. The purpose of the program is to give people with disabilities the opportunity to access, explore, and grow through experimentation with a myriad of art forms.
With varying levels of supervision depending on the individual needs of the artists, Artists First staff and volunteers promote participants' self-esteem through their independent use of materials, exploration of the world of creating art, and socialization with their peers. Artists First staff and volunteers provide nurturing, structured artistic direction resulting in tremendous growth in our artists
Artists First curates and hosts quarterly art exhibitions highlighting the talents of Artists First participants. Featuring artists' works in community forums helps dismantle stereotypes of the disabled population while giving artists the chance to fully participate in the increasingly vibrant arts community in Saint Louis.
Youth Open Studio
The Integrated Youth Open-Studio is a weekly program for youth with and without disabilities. Under the tutelage of professional artists, students explore their creativity while developing interpersonal communication skills and character development. Young artists are given total access to the studio to explore and experiment with different mediums as they begin to find their own unique vision and voice. Not only are youth creating art but they are enhancing their communication and interpersonal skills though contact with their peers, Artists First staff and volunteers. The Youth Open Studio encourages a greater sense of self-worth and self-reliance for the participants. Moreover, the Integrated Open Youth Studio encourages empathy and compassion building for participants without disabilities as they are witnessing first-hand the challenges that those with disabilities face on a daily basis.
Lifeworks
Lifeworks, supported by the St. Louis
Office for Developmental Disabilities, is a
program tailored to professionally
minded artists with developmental
disabilities to reach their greatest
potential in employment, social,
emotional, and physical domains through
the arts.
Artists First for Veterans
Artists First for Veterans is a nontraditional creative support program for veterans that supports the development of positive self-identity, self-expression and community re-integration. We have seen firsthand the healing affects art can have on individuals with a variety of needs such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and brain injury as well as for individuals who require a supportive outlet to process their unique experiences and personal stories. Having full access to the studio stocked with professional art supplies, veterans can choose what they want to express and create. If needed, structured creative projects will be prepared specifically for veterans.
Opening Minds Through Art
Artists First has partnered with the evidence based program Opening Minds Through Art (OMA). Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) was founded by Dr. Elizabeth “Like” Lokon in 2007 and is grounded in person-centered care principles. It is headquartered at Scripps Gerontology Center, an Ohio Center of Excellence at Miami University. OMA is an intergenerational visual art program for people with memory loss. OMA participants create works of art on a weekly basis, while paired with volunteers who are trained to rely on imagination instead of memory and focus on remaining strengths instead of lost skills. OMA enables people with dementia to assume new roles as artists and teachers and leave a legacy of beautiful artwork. The art projects are failure-free, and allows participants to show others the creative self -expression capacities of people with dementia. An exhibit highlighting the participants work is held at the end of the 8-week session. The program at Artists First is offered with the support of the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Missouri Chapter and Maryville University.
Healing Trauma of Isms
Healing Trauma of Isms is a trauma and culturally informed, strengths based creative self-expression curriculum to aid individuals heal from the negative effects of experiencing racism and other forms of oppression. The program is specifically designed to address the trauma and grief endured by those who have been discriminated against and who have been exposed to intersectional oppression. The intent of the program is healing and empowerment by providing a safe and supportive space using specific creative self-expression activities to address intersectionality based trauma and to address subsequent health inequities and to heal.
Where we work
Awards
Editor's Choice Award Best Open Studio 2017
Saint Louis Magazine
Inclusion Award 2019
Governor's Council on Disability
Affiliations & memberships
Americans for the Arts 2017
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of works on loan to others
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Adult Open Studio
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
By loaning artwork to different entities, we are lifting up and promoting under represented artists.
Average number of service recipients per month
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Economically disadvantaged people, Artists and performers, Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups
Related Program
Adult Open Studio
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Artists First directly serves over 250individuals annually in addition to over 13 groups, county and city school districts, 4 universities and participates in over 40 community events a year
Number of works exhibited temporarily
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Young adults, Economically disadvantaged people, Older adults, Ethnic and racial groups, At-risk youth
Related Program
Adult Open Studio
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Hours of expertise provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities, Ethnic and racial groups, People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Adult Open Studio
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of treatment and support plans revised within specified timeframes
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Related Program
Lifeworks
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Client centered support plans are completed bi annually.
Number of veterans with PTSD served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Veterans
Related Program
Artists First for Veterans
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our values reflect our vision.
A acceptance of all people, to encourage growth.
R respect for all people to promote community.
T Trust gained from integrity and inspiration.
Artists First aims to strengthen and expand programs that serve disenfranchised individuals using creative self-expression.
The Open Studio Program is an especially unique, multifaceted community resource that provides economic opportunities, fosters self-sufficiency and promotes cultural / artistic enrichment in the community. The Open Studio has 5 components: The Adult Open Studio provides adults with disabilities with professional supplies and technical facilitation by specialized staff. Youth in the Youth Open Studio create artistic pieces while exchanging cultural values and ideas. Lifeworks is a customized-supported employment program that provides professionally-minded artists with disabilities the opportunity to pursue and build careers in art. Artists First for Veterans supports the development of positive self-identity, self-expression and community reintegration through the arts for current and former Armed Service members. Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) is an evidence based art program serving adults with dementia. In addition to the Open Studio program, Artists First brings art into the community and beyond as a means of integration, healing, support, working together, and finding common ground.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Assessing what works and what does not work is a constant exercise for the Board of Directors and staff. Data collection including benchmarking numbers, social media analytics, annual survey results, volume of sales and demographics of artists served all aid in the evaluation that Artists First engages in. Using metrics and artists’ feedback, Artists First is able to make well informed program decisions. With artists input, Artists First’s Board of Directors and staff created and follow a 3-year strategic plan including studio, fundraising, marketing and program goals.s First is able to make well informed program decisions.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Artists First is fortunate to have wide and dedicated community support from volunteers to companies who donate services. The organization's strengths include first and foremost the artists we serve, a dedicated staff, a diverse Board of Directors who ensure integrity in all that the organization does. Inclusiveness, diversity and representation are important elements to Artists First from committee structure to program development and implementation. The Board of Directors is comprised of community stake holders including caregivers of individuals with disabilities, artists and others who share the mission of Artists First.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Artists First has increased direct service to over 250 individuals.
Programs continue to have strong outcomes. Artists First for Veterans in program year 2021 had a 94% retention rate; 90% of participants actively engaged in treatment; 96% of participants in the program increased in emotional wellbeing.
Artists First has increased diversification of funding
Artists First's new funding partners include Children Services Fund, PNC Arts Alive, Trio Foundation of St. Louis, Productive Living Board.
Artists First has increased its professional staff.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We pride ourselves on being specifically designed on adapting our services to disenfranchised individuals including those with disabilities (physical, cognitive and mental health), veterans and specifically veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and or substance abuse, elders with memory loss and their caregivers, disconnected youth, and those experiencing toxic stress.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
Through feedback responses, the organization expanded Artists First for Veterans program.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Artists First
Board of directorsas of 08/16/2022
Anne Holin
Artists First
Term: 2016 - 2023
Jimauria Evans
Nancy Newman Rice
Board Member
Anne Hollin
Board Co Chair
Jimoria Evans
Board Co Chair
Audrey Jones
Advisory Board
Robert Powell
Advisory Board
John Orbe
Advisory Board
Rene Zar
Secretary
Dr. Christina Garnet
Board Member
Douglas Hall
Board Member
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/05/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.