Arts are an integral part of the lives of all residents and essential to the health and vitality of the community. Riverside Arts Academy provides low cost quality programs for the underserved community. The mission of the Riverside Arts Academy is to provide instruction and a spring board to arts education in a broad-based curriculum that focuses on improving the quality of life through music, dance, performing and visual arts. Monies raised through sponsorship helps to purchase instruments, art materials and specialized instruction. Riverside Arts Academy Focuses on Four Disciplines Music Dance Performing Visual Arts Under the guidance of qualified instructors, participants develop fundamentals and fine‐tune artistic techniques. The Riverside Arts Academy engages youth in the creative process through the visual arts. Visual Arts is an exploratory program designed for youth who have an artistic interest and enthusiasm in the areas of visual arts, poetry and theater. Dance classes offered at the Riverside Arts Academy provide an outlet for self-expression, grace, strength, agility, creativity and balance. Donations provide funding to support Riverside Arts Academy, enabling the program to contribute to the cultural life of the community by providing artistic and cultural activities for the diverse youth of Riverside. Music classes help to facilitate academic achievement! Not only do youth who study music develop musical abilities, they receive benefits that extend to other academic areas, leading to overall scholastic success. Recent studies show that youth 8 – 17 are at risk of being involved with mischievous behavior during the after school hours of 3 – 6 p.m. when they are often unsupervised. Team work: • Improves self-esteem, • Inspires creativity • Helps young people set and reach goals Since July 2014 there have been over 500 registered participants in the program. Riverside Arts Academy is made possible by sponsorship and donations from the community. Established in 2014, The Art ‘N Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping support art programs for the economically disadvantaged youth. Art ‘N Kids recognizes the importance of developing creativity through art. Their nonprofit’s mission is to ensure that all children in Riverside have access to the arts. In that spirit, John Verwiel is donating 38 original works of art to ART ‘N KIDS to generate funds for the Riverside Arts Academy. One hundred percent of the donations to the Art ‘N Kids Foundation will go to the Riverside Arts Academy. Art 'N Kids non-profit foundation is currently working with several businesses, organizations and members of the community to seek funding for art programs. Organizations who donate to Art 'N Kids will receive a piece of art for their sponsorship. Monies raised by the Art ‘N Kids Foundation provides: • Supplies for visual art programs • Musical instruments for music classes • Specialized instruction in the areas of music, dance and theatrical arts supplies, equipment and funding There are many ways to support the Art ‘N Kids Foundation. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we gladly accept tax-deductible contributions from corporations, patrons and supporters of the arts. Please visit artnkids.org for up-to-the-minute information.