The ARTreach Heroes are in the driver’s seat
ARTreach is driving the arts to Katy and hosting an honorary event for all the people who are helping to steer the way. ARTreach’s Heroes Among Us Art Making Event is on Saturday, August 14th, 10:00- 4:00 p.m. and sponsored by Don McGill Toyota of Katy. On this day, you will find over 100 ARTreach heroes in the lobby of Don McGill Toyota of Katy painting the ARTreach Art Car and participating in several collaborative projects that make a heroic statement about the importance of the arts in our community.
ARTreach is putting the pedal to the metal and driving the art mission home. Who are the heroes behind the wheel and driving the arts to Katy?
ARTreach and The Heroes Among Us. The heroes are represented by hundreds and hundreds of community donors and supporters of ARTreach. ARTreach heroes are community volunteers, business friends and corporate sponsors. ARTreach heroes include the board of directors, advisors, the staff and the generous supporters behind this arts education and outreach organization founded in Katy in 2003. ARTreach is headquartered in Katy, Texas to serve the growing needs related to the arts in the tri county area.
“Many people are hearing about the great work being done through ARTreach and its subsidiaries. This is why many community leaders and local businesses are very proud of their involvement in the success of this outreach organization”, says Texas Senator Glenn Hegar, Katy resident and ARTreach hero, “ARTreach is a community supported nonprofit that puts its resources directly into outreach programs to provide much need art programs and mentors to a growing list social service agencies, schools and underserved communities. Their advocacy and willingness to share their resources is clearly advancing the arts education movement statewide, opening doors and paving the way for this nonprofit from Katy, Texas to have a tremendous impact on a very important population.”
“In addition to this,” says Hegar, “ARTreach is having an impact on our Katy families through their exemplary community programs and special events. ARTreach gallery openings and interactive art and music festivals improve the quality of life and creative atmosphere of Katy. ARTreach community programs incorporate the heritage of Katy and share the arts connection throughout the district to include the unincorporated areas surrounding the City of Katy. ARTreach is bridging the gap between three counties and sharing an influence that benefits the entire area.”
The public is invited to join the Heroes at the honorary event being held at Don McGill Toyota of Katy, on August 14th from 10-4 pm and help paint the ARTreach ART Car and create a community masterpiece. Refreshments are provided by Berryhill Baja Grill of Cinco Ranch and Villagio Town Center, and Fish City Grill of LaCenterra. Other sponsors of the Heroic event include Absolutely! Magazine and Sweet Spirit Productions. See the ARTreach URGEWORKS Dancers- “Dancing with the Cars” performance at 2pm.
ARTreach Programs are made possible by individual donations, foundation grants, Texas Commission on the Arts, and Community ART Partners. ARTreach 2010 Select ART Partners include Don McGill Toyota of Katy, Marcel Group and the Villagio Town Center, and Agave Road of Katy. 2010 Signature ARTreach Event Sponsors include Agave Road of Katy, Firethorne, Tradition Bank, Berryhill Baja Grill in Cinco Ranch and Villagio Town Center.
Be an arts driver, or just come along for the ride. Everyone benefits when the Arts are Alive! Volunteer or make a donation today. Become an ART Partner of ARTreach. Visit www.artreachonline.org to learn more, email info@artreachonline.org or call 281-797-2806 to find out how you can become involved.
Tags: ARTreach, Arts in Katy, Don Mcgill Toyota of Katy, Heroes Among Us
At ARTreach, we believe that more individuals should have access to arts and arts education or other experiential activities that can improve their quality of life, regardless of income or background. In turn, communities will benefit, by becoming healthier, and more positive, tolerant and attractive places to live and work.
Our organization puts these beliefs into action by designing, funding, and delivering art programs that can spark individuals’ creative thinking, promote positive outlooks, improve self-confidence, widen horizons and teach life skills that improve tolerance, compassion, and otherwise promote the health and well-being of citizens of our tri-county area.
Since 2003, ARTreach has served the neediest populations through our effective collaborations with local social service agencies, senior centers, and our Independent School Districts. Our program directors, artists and volunteers are trained in teaching methods that are arts-based and relevant to the populations we serve. We have measured and documented the outstanding results of these programs, in partnership with our sponsor schools, centers and agencies.
ARTreach Programs are ranked the highest in integrity, impact and capacity by the Texas Commission on the Arts State review panel. If you are a Social Service agency, a non-profit organization, a PTA or school – even a City can now ask the State for funding to bring any of the ARTreach programs to wherever you need ART to be.
We would like to ask the City of Katy and the residents of all surrounding counties to invest in our community’s success and support the arts now. Contact ARTreach, Ask for more Art in our community.
Art makes a difference, so does your support.
ARTreach relies on grants and donations from foundations, businesses and individuals like you who value and prioritize the arts in your life, school and community. Become and ARTreach Partner today. Be an ART volunteer and advocate for the arts. You can donate dollars or your time, donate supplies for our programs, or art for our galleries to sell. Purchasing any of our beautiful ARTwork or utilizing our Coterie of Art Services will help. visit www.artreachonline.org for more information. Thank you for your support.
Please buy original Art, support artists, musicians and teachers. Proceeds will benefit community programs in Katy and our outreach to the underserved. To learn more about the work we are doing, and to become involved. Visit our website. www.ARTreachonline.org ARTreach and our programs are supported by the State of Texas with funding available from the Texas Commission of the Arts to help schools and communities in need. Ask for more Art. Ask for ARTreach Programs.
The entire collection will be unveiled at Agave Road in October
Stop by Garden Cafe in the Village of Old Katy and see a unique ARTreach exhibition in the café gallery. This is the starting point of a destination tour that features a collection of original artwork created in ARTreach’s first international outreach mission to Africa. This exhibition tour features the original artwork created by 36 Uganda artists and is called the ART of Africa.
About the mission
Individuals living in Uganda are struggling in poverty resulting from years of economic mismanagement and political turmoil. The International ARTreach mission to Africa was made possible through church partnerships and the initiative of ARTreach program director, Vickie McMillan. Her dream was to go to Africa and teach art to individuals who would never otherwise be given the opportunity due to limited resources and factors related to poverty. The objective of the ARTreach project was to share her American dream and her vocational and entrepreneurial spirit related to art and gallery exhibitions. Her workshop was designed to instill a sense of hope for the future and expose the creative power within and a person’s own ability to affect change in their own life and community, no matter how bad the circumstances and the situation. This is an ARTreach teaching philosophy.
About the artists
Artists were given the opportunity through the Uganda Arts Council to participate in the ARTreach workshops. Her residency included the sharing of new art materials, mediums and techniques with over 50 enrolled Ugandan artists. She was able to teach valuable lessons, and leave behind new paints, professional brushes, canvases and quality paper provided by ARTreach donors from Katy, Woodlands and the Houston area.
Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, which is also bordered by Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompassed a portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala.
“I am in Kampala, Uganda and working with artists who are starving to paint!” Vickie explained in her journal reports, “They are using discarded cloth found in trash piles, and painting on leaves and tree bark. The pigments are expensive and they are seeking their opportunities to paint their own expressive notions” The artwork created in Vickie’s Kampala workshops demonstrated the artists wide range of natural and self taught talent.
At the conclusion of Vickie’s residency, she left the group with her American challenge. She wanted to encourage the artists to continue to paint and she gave them an incentive to practice their new found skills, and hone their talent to help themselves live easier in this world.” Vickie gave them the opportunity to create new work and send their finished pieces to the attention of ARTreach in Katy, Texas. The organization would respond by organizing an exhibition to sell their work for them in a market that enjoys art and buys original art. A market not found in their tribal hometown area. This challenge was accepted and within this year over 75 pieces have been sent to ARTreach with the artists seeking the help and support of ARTreach.
About ARTreach
Thanks to grants and donations from individuals and local businesses this Texas based nonprofit from Katy is currently organizing the kind of exhibition that will make a struggling artist’s dream come true. All purchases from the ART of Africa will benefit the families and the Ugandan artists involved.
“To us, these works of art represent the hopes and dreams of every person who wants to make a better life for themselves,” says Terri Bieber, founder and executive director of ARTreach, “Our organization is very proud of this work and of Vickie McMillan and her dedication to this project. Anyone purchasing this artwork will know the sale will benefit many families and artists in Uganda and ARTreach. The income earned through the sale of one painting in America will feed a starving artist in Africa for a year!” Bieber ads, “This is a signature ARTreach Exhibition and we are seeking many more sponsors. Please inquire!”
ARTreach asks the Uganda Council to reserve 10% of the funds to assure art supplies and new materials remain available to the artists so they will continue to paint and sell their work. Additional proceeds exceeding the opening bids on any of these limited works of art will benefit an array of local ARTreach programs.
Thank you for your interest in ARTreach and the ARTreach Programs. To learn more about our organization visit www.artreachonline.org and check out the ARTreach Coterie – here you will find our online gallery and can see the entire collection of the ART of Africa. Bid online. Final bids will be accepted on October 21, 2010 at ARTreach’s annual gala exhibition, this year held at Agave Road in Katy, Texas. Tickets to this event will be available soon online.
Find the ART of Africa in great destinations all over Katy August 1 – October 21!
Small rotating exhibitions are being featured in hot spots all over Katy. See selections from of the ART of Africa collection between now and October 21st – Take the tour and make the following businesses your cultural arts destination!
The Garden Café in the Village of Old Katy
1512 Avenue C, Katy, 77493
(281) 391-4480
Salt and Pepper Restaurant
5608 Fifth Street, Katy, 77493
(713) 854-4336
Agave Road
1016 FM 1463,
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 395-5070.
Don McGill Toyota of Katy
21555 Katy Freeway
Katy, TX 77450
(832) 772-1000
Tradition Bank
1515 Grand Parkway
Katy, TX 77450
The Wine Next Door located at LaCenterra in Cinco Ranch
23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd.
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 395-4100
The ARTreach Gallery at the “V” located in the Villagio Town Center
22756 Westheimer Parkway, Suite 180,
Katy, Texas 77450
281-363-1336
Opening bids start as low as $150 online. However, businesses or individuals interested in purchasing any of these unique and original works of art while on tour can override the bidding process by making a $1,000 tax deductible donation to support ARTreach Programs today. A donation on this level will confirm a final bid and mark the piece SOLD. A donation on this level also represents the ARTreach’s Community Partners Giving Level. This level will include your painting, and also provide recognition on our website, tickets to all ARTreach special events, and acknowledgement in our newsletter and other media. We strive to go beyond the standard expectations with opportunities for our community partners, to include your employees and your customers. For more information about the ARTreach Partners Program you can visit our website or contact Christine Stilwell, at ARTreach by calling 281-797-2806 or by emailing c.stilwell@artreachonline.org
Thank you for supporting the arts in our community. It is the vision of ARTreach to provide equal access to the arts while inspiring, empowering and uniting people and their communities through cultural awareness and the arts. The arts cultural influence represented in our community and its impact on the city’s economic development will ensure a creative and sustainable future for Katy. Visit the ARTreach Gallery and new corporate offices located at The Villagio Town Center in the heart of Cinco Ranch, 22756 Westheimer Parkway, Suite 180, Katy, Texas 77450.
Learn more about ARTreach and find ways you can become involved www.artreachonline.org
How can you help?
• Become an ARTreach Partner – contact Christine Stilwell c.stilwell@artreachonline.org
• Join our Artist Coterie and market and sell your original art and quality art services with proceeds benefitting ARTreach, Contact our Coterie Director, Fatima Donaldson email info@artreachonline.org
• Train to become a teaching artist, a professional artist, a performing artist, or an ARTreach exhibition coordinator, look for great volunteer opportunities by visiting our website www.artreachonline.org
• Become and advocate for the arts in Texas
Contact Terri Bieber, Executive Director for more information 281-392-5341/info@artreachonline.org
