YOUNG ARTS ARIZONA LTD
Making kids feel good about themselves through art!
Mission
Increasing the self-concept, and giving hope, healing, and recovery through art making and public exhibition for children who are ill, dying, disabled, detained, and more. Young Arts Arizona Ltd. is dedicated to: • serving challenged children through the arts • making children’s art accessible to the community through public exhibition. • empowering children who are ill and at risk to achieve their full potential through artistic expression, art education, and exhibition of their art. • providing quality art programming, exhibition, advocacy, and accessibility for children and the Arizona community.
Notes from the nonprofit
Statements from parents, teachers, and audience members regarding the art making and exhibition experience for the children:
I absolutely believe that displaying their artwork in a professional setting had an impact on these students. Creativity is a lost aspect of cognitive development in today’s world.
Seeing my child’s work displayed was a proud moment. I was even more amazed at how excited he was referring to himself as an ‘artist.’
My grandson, who rarely shows emotion, was beaming the entire day. I saw the same smile and excitement in all the students. They were so proud to show their work!
I believe the displaying of the artwork has a very positive impact on these students which will last a lifetime. It has been beneficial for self-esteem. I think it might well trigger a deeper appreciation for artwork, and who knows… a career choice!
Displaying student artwork gives them a sense of accomplishment.
They experienced the “awe” of seeing their work and others on display.
My son was excited and saw how proud I was!
Displaying our kids’ artwork had an impact because it gave them more confidence and rewarded them for doing a good job.
The students got to see different ways different cultures express art.
Our child was very excited and happy their work got to be displayed in a museum.
Ruling year
1999
President/CEO
Dr. Judith G. Wolf
Director
Alicia Keenon
Main address
2009 North 7th Street Suite 1
Phoenix, AZ 85006 USA
EIN
86-0933814
NTEE code
Arts Service Activities/Organizations (A90)
Other Youth Development N.E.C. (O99)
Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our organization is continually seeking to secure funding for our ongoing programs. We address this issue by requesting funds from corporations and foundations, running two fundraisers per year, and we solicit funding from social media. We also engage in crowd sourcing to raise funds. Currently, we are still catching up with deficits created by the Covid-19 pandemic. The art in our collaborative galleries is not all up to date yet. However, we are making progress.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Art of Freedom
Young Arts Arizona's goal is to offer a perspective of pride, hope and possibility through the creation and exhibition of art by juvenile detainees. Objectives are 1. For detained youth to find a creative outlet for their difficult emotions with focus on improving their sense of self and balancing behavioral responses that lead them to be detained. 2. To exhibit the juvenile detainees’ art a) as a means to increase their sense of self-worth, b) advocate for children’s art, c) make art accessible to the broad community.
The participants create art that is exhibited in two detention centers in Phoenix and Mesa, and in Maricopa and Pima County Juvenile Court Systems. Annually, more than 10,000 children live at the detention centers and see the exhibited art created by their peers.
The project serves large portions of the community by making art publicly accessible: An estimated 200,000 audience members, including parents and siblings of detainees, detention center staff, judges, attorneys, and visitors see the exhibited art shown within the court systems. Exhibiting the art of detained children and youth increases the community's awareness of the difficult lives and circumstances the juvenile detainees endure. No other organization provides this type of important program.
The project serves up to 100 children in juvenile detention and addresses a need of detained youth to connect with their creativity through the arts in order to improve their sense of self and thus help balance the behavioral responses that lead them to be detained.
The children we serve are extremely at risk. They are detained for delinquent or incorrigible acts and are waiting for their court dates -- often up to a year, which is a long time for a child to live in a strange environment. Most come from exceedingly difficult family situations and are lacking in social/coping skills. Frequently, they have been exposed to drugs and are academically below average. The chances for these children to succeed in school and in society are slim. There is an urgent need for these youth to be validated and acknowledged so that they have any chance to thrive and become happy, healthy community members now and later as adults.
Our program engages detained youth in art making and lets them know that their art will be professionally framed and exhibited for all to see. This has a profoundly positive effect on their sense of self. The children are free to draw and paint their fears, frustrations, and disappointments, and are encouraged to express their hopes and dreams.
They are able to see some of their art displayed at the detention centers and in court, which gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment. The program teaches them that despite all their differences, they are all still people. It opens them up to life of possibilities that is free of delinquencies and criminal behavior. It allows them to envision a world the way they want it to be and instills hope in their future.
The Art of Healing
The Art of Healing is a project with which Young Arts Arizona Ltd. serves children who are receiving treatment for and management of complicated and disabling illnesses and disorders at 5 medical facilities: Cardon Children’s Medical Center Phoenix Children's Hospital, Banner Thunderbird Hospital, Ryan House - palliative care for children, and Children's Rehabilitative Services - serving children with birth disorders.
Our goal is to give these children a positive outlet through art and help them cope with this difficult time in their lives. Young Arts Arizona exhibits the children's art at a Young Arts galleries in the facilities as well as in 3 other public galleries where it is seen by the community at large.
Phase 1: Experienced art therapist facilitate 12 3-hour art classes for the young patients in each facility. They teach them the use of diverse art media, art supplies and techniques. In addition, the art therapists visit children who are too sick to leave their rooms and give them one-on-one attention and art instructions. As the participants learn to create art, they are empowered to apply their knowledge and skills on their own and are encouraged to express their feelings through their work. An art curriculum, specifically developed for this project, is implemented. The curriculum is in adherence to the Art Standards of the Arizona Department of Education.
The expression of difficult emotions and the learning of art techniques help the children feel better about themselves, takes their minds off their pain and discomfort, increases their self-esteem, and helps them define themselves as creators and exhibitors of art. As the children benefit from this project, so do their families, who are under much stress.
Phase 2: From the art created, Young Arts' curator chooses and professionally frames 60 pieces of art. Twenty pieces are shown at Young Arts’ gallery at the medical facilities. The young patients, as well as families and hospital staff are able to see this art on a daily basis. Forty pieces are in Young Arts' collaborative galleries, which are in accessible public buildings. Young Arts hosts a public exhibit opening its home gallery Purple Space.
Through the exhibition of their art, the children have the opportunity to be recognized and celebrated by their friends, family and the community. This powerful validation is instrumental in helping them feel better about themselves which in turn helps physical healing and recovery.
The exhibit The Art of Healing rotates through our galleries at Young Arts' Purple Space, Arizona State Capitol, Arizona State Senate, and the medical facility galleries for a total of 9 months. It is seen by an audience of 100,000. This extensive community outreach not only serves to make art accessible to the broad public, but also raises awareness of the importance of art to children, especially children living with illness and disorders. No other organization fulfills this need in our community.
Where we work
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of children who have a sense of their own feelings and an ability to express empathy for others
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
Art of Freedom
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Juvenile detainees release difficult emotions through art creation. By working with others in workshops, they learn balanced social behavior.
Number of works exhibited temporarily
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Young Arts exhibits children's art in currently 42 public galleries. The art rotates year round. Last year we showed 4700 pieces of art in 135 exhibitions. The art was seen by 2 million people.
Number of overall donors
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These numbers are for individual donors at an annual fundraising event that is attended by approximately 80 guests. and for individual donors contributing the holiday fund drive.
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Art of Freedom
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Through Facebook we share information about Young Arts' work. We publish exhibition openings, invitations, and successes. Users can donate. During the pandemic, our online visibility increased
Number of grants received
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
The Art of Healing
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Through sizeable crisis grants that were issued during the pandemic, Young Arts is financially stable and growing.
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?
YA has a rolling 3-year strategic plan for programming, fundraising, and marketing activities. The exhibition schedule is is developed with input from board and staff. It coordinates workshop schedules and collaborations with schools, agencies, galleries.
YA's plan implements current programmatic goals: 1. conduct art workshops at 4 medical facilities and 2 juvenile detention centers; 2. partner with 36 schools and 7 agencies to obtain children's art; 3. annually exhibit 130+ shows of children's art; 4. serve more children (currently 5000 per year), increase collaborations (currently 123), and reach greater audiences through art exhibits.
Continuing Goals:
1. Serve challenged children through the arts. 2. Make children's art accessible to the community through public exhibition. 3. Empower children achieve their full potential through art. 4. Provide quality art programming, exhibition, advocacy, and accessibility for children and the Arizona community.
Rating scales and surveys provide ongoing evaluations of our programs to meet set goals.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
YA has a rolling 3-year strategic plan for all programming, fundraising and marketing activities. The exhibition schedule is used to coordinate all of YA's teaching schedules and collaborations with schools, agencies, and gallery venues.
Strategies in Progress: YA is a collaborative organization. Our partners consist of 36 schools, 7 agencies, 42 gallery venues, 5 school districts, and 4 teaching artists.
We continually seek new partnerships with gallery venues, include more diverse children, seek out new collaborations with agencies and schools. Every year we expand our exhibition venues and our teaching programs.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Financial Capabilities: YA receives funding through government agencies, corporations, foundations, individuals, fundraisers, and micro grants. YA has never shown a deficit.
Administrative Capabilities
1. YA's President/CEO manages the organization: plans the exhibit schedule and framing/hanging of art; solicits art from schools/agencies; communicates and coordinates with Young Arts' collaborators; administers all financial aspects; conducts major gifts fundraising; designs, implements and analyzes evaluation tools for our programs.
2. The Deputy Director raises funds from government, foundations and corporations, and manages online fundraising utilities, handles all aspects of marketing (web content, internet, newsletters, press-releases, etc.)
3. YA's artistic curator frames and hangs the children's art, and rotates the exhibits through our 42 gallery spaces.
4. Framing assistant
5. Curator
6. The assistant helps the President/CEO
Artistic Capabilities
Four talented, compassionate, dedicated teaching artists who facilitate art workshops for hospitalized and incarcerated children, including children who are in their end of life stage.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have accomplished to create collaborations with 36 schools, 7 social agencies, and 42 gallery venues. We show over 130 public art exhibits per year, which are seen by 2+ million community members in Arizona. Annually we serve 5000+ at-risk children through the arts. We are now working with 4 qualified teaching artists who conduct art workshops for children in 4 medical facilities and 2 juvenile detention centers.
What we have not accomplished: Receive financial support from the medical facilities for the free workshops we are giving their children. We are seeking to compensate our very qualified staff appropriately.
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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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
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YOUNG ARTS ARIZONA LTD
Board of directorsas of 05/25/2023
Mr. David Bolger
Corporate/Education Consulting, Inc.
Term: 2011 -
Jamie Dove
Consultant
Term: 2017 -
Judith G Wolf
Judith G. Wolf Unlimited
Paul Perez
Trans-Am Equitiy LLC
Apryl Allen
Singer/Composer
Beverly Clifford
Elementary School Teacher - retired
Derrick Platt
Maricopa County Education Service Agency
Peggy Cohen
TravelbyDesign, President
Jaimie Craig Dove
Consultant
Sandra Ramsey Lines
Forensic Document Examiner
Kimberley Smith
US Army Colonel, retired
Warren Harris
AMS America, Software Engineer
Rodney Paz
Banker
Susan Echeverri
CFO, EJ Engineering
Martha Landon
BofA, Financial Solutions Advisor
Darrin Bergstad
Wells Fargo, Computer Specialist
Inaudi Abero
Businessman
Kate Specter
Artist
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? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
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? No
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:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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