Community Engagement
GAC’s most expansive community initiative, Art for All is a year-round program that enhances local healthcare and crisis centers through free expressive arts experiences designed to promote growth and healing. Each week, individual Teaching Artists visit our six partner sites and facilitate accessible, person-centered artistic activities for patients or clients. Begun over 20 years ago, Art for All continues to empower hundreds of adults and children of all abilities to experience an enriching creative practice.
Community Art Education
Throughout the year, GAC partners with under-resourced schools and other educational nonprofits to bring students into direct collaboration with creative arts professionals. These short-term projects leverage cross-curricular connections in contemporary art and provide unique learning opportunities to people facing obstacles around finance, transportation, location, or technology and would therefore be unlikely to enroll in classes or camps at GAC.
Galveston Urban Ministries Youth Art Collective: What They Don't See – a zine project with Ashanti Anderson, Tierney Malone, Sarah Welch, Kelly Webeck, and Stacy Kirages, and ongoing portfolio development and mentorship with Sebastian Boncy, Jason Dibley, and Steve Roth Fisher. Since 2019
Community Youth Development Artist Apprenticeship with Houston-based muralist Daniel Anguilu and students from the Academia de Bernardo de Galvez alternative high school program, producing the large outdoor mural at 2706 Market Street. Spring 2017
Boys and Girls Club of Galveston County annual Summer Clay Camp with Pat Johnson, Erica Aguirre, and others. Since 2019
Rosenberg Library Books & Art Exhibit-Connect: a 6-week virtual workshop series with Ronald Jones and Mari Hernandez. Spring 2021
SMART Family Literacy Galveston Art Bound: a book-themed community art-making event and fundraiser, with over 20 contributing artists. 2016
Parker Elementary School Annual Class Project with Ms. Sonderfan’s 2nd Grade students (+ Gifted & Talented)
Stop-motion film production with Reyna Collura & Reese Darby. 2016/17
Sculpture installation with Cristal Aldrete & zine workshop with local WAKE publisher Lauren Eddy. 2017/18
Puppet Shows w/ Miss Pussycat. 2018/19
Local Currency project with GAC exhibiting artist Mary Jeys, featured in Exchange Rate. 2019/20
Galveston Codes! Creative Coding project with Nick McIntyre. 2021/22
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After School Art during Tor Kids program at Burnet, Morgan, Rosenberg (then Coastal Village) and Collegiate Academy at Weis with Amber Kaiser and others. 2015-16 & 2016-17:
UTMB Friends of Old Red dedicated to founding a museum preserving UTMB’s medical heritage collections: Drop in and Draw free event featuring specimens from the historical museum collection, with artist Mark Greenwalt. 2017
Alzheimers Association of Texas
Art of the Moment: Early-Stage Social Engagement Program for patients and caregivers featuring personalized, accessible tours and workshops. 2016
Other Community Projects
Community Vine Project: inspired by artist Amber Eagle and presented in conjunction with Galveston Museum Day; currently on display at Galveston Children’s Museum. 2020
Through a Child’s Eyes: a student photography project and exhibition with students from Satori Elementary School in Galveston. 2014
The Blue Trees: with environmental installation artist Konstantin Dimopoulos and Houston Arts Alliance. 2013
Conversations @ The Center: a annual discussion series pairing artists and other professionals from the region around the issues central to the arts and communities. 2012-2020
SUPPORT
Support for GAC’s outreach programing comes from:
The Texas Commission on the Arts
The Junior League of Galveston
The Trube Foundation
and from GAC member contributions
If you are interested in forming an educational partnership with Galveston Arts Center for a special project, please contact our Director of Education with your proposal, time frame, budget estimate, and any potential sources of support.