Visual Arts Program
"A picture tells a thousand stories," is very true for the troubled youth that we serve. Through drawing, painting, collages, photography, graphic and web design, high-risk youth can find release from their traumatic experiences by using the visual arts for expression. At the end of the programs, the kids have lasting souvenirs that they can share with their families and friends. We provide them with opportunities to publicly exhibit and sell their artwork.
Featured Program: "Vulnerable Kids Paint Troubles Away"
Both of our Create A Mural Now workshops through our partnership with the Sony Pictures Entertainment's "Emerging Professionals" employee group were a huge success with the youth at Vista Del Mar.
On March 8th, 22 of these teenagers were given a special private tour of Sony Pictures Studios. It was a thrilling experience for them to get to see the studio lot. They especially enjoyed visiting the "Jeopardy" set and the music-scoring studio.
The next day, over 40 Sony Pictures Emerging Professionals spent most of Saturday helping the vulnerable teens at this mental health facility that provides a safe, nurturing, and structured environment for troubled children and teens who need intensive therapeutic services.
Create Now arranged for all the Sony volunteers to help around 45 of these youth who are mostly in foster care and/or the probation system to paint diverse murals on different sides of the 18-acre Vista Del Mar campus in Culver City.
Featured Program: "Sony Pictures Emerging Professionals"
We're very excited that the Sony Pictures Emerging Professionals group has selected Create Now to receive a grant that will enable us to partner with them on two unique projects this year. The first will be with our partner Vista Del Mar in Culver City, which serves youth in need who are victims of child abuse, neglect, abandonment, domestic violence and family dysfunction. The youth they serve have extreme trust issues, low self-esteem and a variety of emotional and behavioral disorders.
On March 8th, around 25 of these teenagers will be given a special private tour of Sony Pictures Studios. The next day, a number of Sony Pictures Emerging Professionals are volunteering to help the vulnerable teens at Vista Del Mar to paint two different murals.
Artist June Kaewsith is leading one Create A Mural Now workshop that has the theme of "Healthy Lifestyles." It will be located in the barbeque area between the Teen Lounge and the Game Room. June had her first meeting with the kids to get them started drawing their designs of the fruits and vegetables that will be depicted in their mural.
Read about some of our recent Featured Programs
Awakening the Inner Goddess
Painting Gangs Away
Abused Kids Excited by Filmmaking
Compton Kids Paint Mural on Conservation
Lydia House
Photography Workshop for Orange County Youth
Happy Endings
Metamorphosis
Debra Wilson Brings Fun Times To Homeless Shelter
Exploring Life Through Painting
Graphic & Web Design Helps Substance Abusers
Lennox Park Community Mural A Big Success
Incarcerated Girls Find Relief Through Arts
Troubled Girls Open Up Through Arts
Arts Calm Down Teens
A Jungle Story
Fine Art Inspires Foster Kids
Girls’ Detention Facility - Your Donations at Work
Create Now Youth Give Peace a Chance
Women's Shelter of Long Beach
Special thanks to the supporters of our visual arts program
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the Department of Cultural Affairs.