About Us
Our Mission
CREATE Art Center is a private non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization offering arts classes,
arts camps, and arts parties to children
aged 2 to 16, and arts classes and art
therapy programs for adults of all ages. Our mission is to
promote creativity, self-expression, and learning in the arts. Art
engenders growth and has healing qualities, such as relaxation and
the building of confidence and self-esteem. An important part of our
mission is to reach out to underserved populations in the
community.
We lead outreach programs in the form of after-school arts
classes, and conducts arts workshops in public and private schools.
Some of the workshops focus on students who are struggling
academically or come from disadvantaged homes. Some of these
workshops are held through Linkages
to Learning (a Montgomery County school-based partnership) and
work with children and young teens in the Silver Spring public
schools. At the CREATE location we work with autistic youth. We often
include a few children with ADD to our regular camps and classes as
art is a modality that helps these children to concentrate and
succeed. An important part of our mission is to bring the arts to
underserved populations for whom the arts can be a bridge to an
improved quality of life. CREATE also serves the adult population
through the Studio
Downstairs, an art therapy program which meets for three hours
twice per week.
We pride ourselves on both the artistic skill and the sensitivity
to individual students that our teachers possess. In addition to
teaching arts skills, we help our students to develop confidence and
self-assurance in their ability to create arts. Creating joy and
excitement in the process of art making is an integral component in
our classes. Our teachers bring a lot of enthusiasm to their class
and endeavor to make learning the arts pleasurable. Learning a skill
and creating a beautiful and/or meaningful product is an important
part of each of our classes and camps. Focusing on the process of
creating rather than only on the product makes for a positive
experience for each child and adult, and ensures that their love of
the arts will grow and they will want to make the arts a part of
their lives.
CREATE Arts Center serves paying customers and offers scholarships to children and adults. Our teachers work in-house at our studios and teach at other locations such as schools, hospitals, and residential shelters.
We regularly donate our services to the community through our participations in free community arts events several times a year, offer partial scholarships to deserving individuals, and donate gift certificates for our programs to schools' fundraising events. Our staff and our board donate many hours of volunteer time to the organization. The members of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board are community-based.
We are members of Montgomery County and Washington, DC, arts organizations, and have participated with the United Way Combined Federal Campaign and United Arts Organization (†) campaigns. We have received grants from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD, and the State of Maryland.
Our goal is to continue serving the children, teens, and adults of
the greater Washington area, focusing on the process of growth in the
individual and helping to make a positive contribution to the
community.
"She loved it. She's talked about making many friends. She likes
the art projects and definitely wants to come back. The (CREATE camp)
environment is calming and have a more nurturing staff."
Lauren Bailey, parent
"This camp is not like the other camps. The teachers here are
professionals who do professional art. You can choose to do an
activity or not to do it. It's up to you."
Chandini, camper
"Art is like work except it's fun."
anonymous camper
"I love the painting of the fruit that Paul did. I'm going to
frame it!"
anonymous parent
"Sarah & Rachel were excited to come back to camp. They wanted
to come & that says a lot for a 13 & 10 year old!"
anonymous parent
"Abby brought home so many creative projects. She loves CREATE
Arts."
Margaret McIntosh, parent
"You have a very well-run center andwonderful staff. Heena was
great!"
Linda Fong, at her 3-year old's birthday party
"Dear CREATE Arts Staff and especially Tamar Hendel, An inquiry
from a neighbor reminded me that I need to tell you how happy we were
that Sophia has found the CREATE Arts Summer Camp and programs. I
wasn't sure an "art" camp was for us, having seen the kind of crafts
most summer camps provide as "art" but CREATE Arts was so much more
than "crafts" we were more than pleased. Every day was a new art
adventure for Sophia, and every day she came home challenged with a
new idea or way of expressing herself. When Sophia is asked what she
enjoyed most she will tell you it was making friends with the kids
and staff, practicing with her (new found) artistic talents, and
playing games outside at lunch. When I'm asked what I enjoyed most I
will tell you it was watching my girl become more confident,
over-come much of her shyness in a new environment, see her look
forward to "learning" and gaining a better sense of her tastes and
talents. CREATE Arts seems to have given her a huge confidence boost.
Sincerely,
Margaret Albamonte"
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