Clarksville, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) A new program that started earlier this year, Arts for Hearts, is bringing people from all walks of life together to discover, explore and create art. Committed to arts based community development, Arts for Hearts is nurturing art making kinship by breaking down traditional barriers like income, age, education, race, transportation and perception.
Arts for Hearts artists and volunteers provide better access to the arts for everyone especially for those living in at-risk neighborhoods through mobile art classes and workshops. Using art to bring the community together, Arts for Hearts strives to be a model program for Clarksville-Montgomery County.
Currently mobile art classes are held at Summit Heights Public Housing, the Old Fire House Day Shelter, Safe House Domestic Violence Shelter and the Clarksville Public Library.
Arts for Hearts will open HeartSpace Studio in late December in the Tree of Life Center. Independent artists will offer a wide variety of fee based classes and event options to the public. A portion of each class goes to help support mobile art outreach classes throughout Clarksville.
Another important program providing support for Art for Hearts mobile art classes is the “Share your Heart” initiative. Community members paint small keepsake ceramic hearts that are used to help raise funds and awareness about the value of arts and culture.
The hearts are sold at local art fairs and retail stores and hearts are also donated to organizations comforting those who are ill, suffering loss or going through some of life’s challenging moments.
Arts for Hearts is a program under the Arts and Heritage Development Council and partners with the Downtown Artists Co Op. The program is the brainchild of Rita Arancibia and her daughter Patricia Arancibia Wilkinson. Founding members include Ellen Kanervo, Ann Waddle, Peggy Bonnington, Dorothy Hartzog, Brenda Fauth, Barb Kane and Kim Balevre.
You’ll find HeartSpace Studio, opening December 27 in the Tree of Life Center, at 30 Crossland Ave. Suite in Clarksville. To learn more about Arts for Hearts visit www.artsforheartsclarksville.org, emailartsforheartsclarksville@gmail.com or call 931-237-7647.