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2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit

Arts in Action V A P Inc

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts Services, Mental Health, Mental Health Treatment, Visual Arts

Mission: Arts in Action Visual Art Program, Inc is an organization that educates its students and volunteers about art, the therapeutic value of art and the processes of creating art, and promotes growth of art appreciation in schools and throughout the community

Geographic areas served: New York City

Programs: Arts in action visual art program, inc. Is an organization that educates its students and volunteers about art, the therapeutic value of art and the processes of creating art, and promotes growth of art appreciation in schools and throughout the community as a means of communication. This visual art curriculum develops skills in critical thinking, sequencing, fine motor coordination, and analytical reasoning. These skills enhance learning in other subject areas such as reading, writing and mathematics. Additionally, the curriculum fosters selfexpression, self-esteem, and a sense of empowerment. Aiavap is based on a program that angela tripi-weiss created twenty-four years ago. Ms tripi-weiss refined it during her 18-year tenure as director of the visual arts programming at public school 87 in manhattan, and for the last 9 years has been the curriculum developer for arts in action vap inc as an independent entity. She continues to offer tutorials in portfolio development for student entry into specialized high schools, such as laguardia high school, and she has developed educational curricula, workshops for special exhibits and new galleries for the museum of natural history in new york city. Aiavap has just concluded its eighth year as an independent nonprofit organization and has been operating an afterschool program for 8 years as the first of several programs to be established and set into operation. Aiavap was selected for the 7th year for a grant from city councilwoman, honorable gale brewer, and department of youth and community development ( dycd). Aiavap enjoys the support of a dedicated and diverse board of directors, who give time in their specific area of expertise. Thanks to corcoran cares support, aiavap was able to continue subsidizing all initial scholarship students as well as to award new ones during the last school year. These two grants, coupled with the tuitions acquired through the fee-based student body, have enabled aiavap to move closer to meeting its financial goals. Charitable funding allows aiavap to dedicate resources and energy to finding and fulfilling the art educational needs of children from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The roster of students has doubled in this past year, attracting students from seven public, private and parochial, schools. Applicants accepted for scholarship were 70% male and 30% female ranging in age from 5 through 16. The children came from a diverse community of latin-american, asian, african-american and white families. This community is predominantly based on the upper west side although the program's reputation is beginning to draw interest from other areas of new york city. No prior art experience is necessary. Each class is grouped with students from two to three grade levels as well as being ethnically and socio-economically diverse. Class size is kept to twelve children. The organization has continued to reach out to many communities through advertising strategies that included local news publications, web sites, and a flyer handout campaign. Aiavap continues to contact community organizations, schools and churches to reach families who are financially challenged but whose children could benefit from exposure to art expression. This year, the aiavap afterschool program was able to acquire an assistant to help in most of the classes. The quality of learning improves markedly when the art instructor has assistance. Aiavap established significant relationships with school counselors from several area high schools, notably laguardia, beacon, and bard. Through such contacts aiavap offered an opportunity for teens attending artbased high schools to fulfill their community service requirements in a creative venue and to encourage those high school students who may want to study teaching art as a college major. (80 students)

Community Stories

14 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

1

Client Served

Rating: 5

My eight year old granddaughter has been enrolled in Arts in Action during two academic years and one summer. During that time she has progressed steadily and is becoming a fine young artist. This program is outstanding and suitable for children who can focus on their work, accept guidance and get satisfaction from their progress.

Client Served

Rating: 5

Arts in Action VAP offers high quality fine arts training in their after school and camp programs. Their programs train children who are serious about making art, offering a well-equipped studio and artist-mentors to guide and critique the students. Students will spend numerous sessions working on their piece, developing it deeply into a sophisticated art piece.

Huanwei C.

Client Served

Rating: 5

My child always loves her art class here. She really enjoys it.

Client Served

Rating: 5

My daughter has been coming to the program for the past 5 years. She absolutely loves the program and her teachers! Everyone at the Arts in Action VAP program is warm, loving and caring. The program director, Angela Tripi-Weiss is an amazing teacher and inspiration to the kids. We have always been very impressed with the sophistication in the artwork produced by the children at the bi-annual Art Exhibit. One of the many things we like about Arts in Action is that they truly practice the philosophy that kids learn at their own pace. Angela and her staff are able to draw out the artist in each child.

General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

My daughter is in the teen class. She is learning a range of skills in different types of mediums. She likes her instructors and that this is a serious art class with like-minded students.

General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

The artwork that my daughter has created under Angela’s supervision far exceeds anything she’s done in previous art programs. We are excited to create a portfolio for high school with the work she’s made at Arts in Action!

Board Member

Rating: 5

Arts in Action helped both of my children get accepted to high school and college in fine arts. They both studied with Angela Tripi-Weiss and prepared their portfolios for LaGuardia High School to great success. After that they prepared college portfolios under Angela's guidance and were accepted at RISD and Carnegie-Mellon (among other colleges) in visual arts. I would encourage any parent who has a child that likes to draw to attend this program and receive a traditional, structured visual fine arts curriculum that can serve them on many levels. They will expand their skills and creativity with guidance that can serve them for the rest of their lives.

Previous Stories

Board Member

Rating: 5

Arts in Action changed my children's lives. Angela Tripi-Weiss helped them prepare their high school portfolios for their entry into LaGuardia HS in NYC. She then helped them prepare their college portfolios for acceptance into many fine visual art colleges. They graduated with visual art degrees from RISD and Carnegie-Mellon. The curriculum is built in a sequential manner that teaches children from kindergarten through college. I recommend Arts in Action Visual Art Program to anyone in the NYC area who wants a high quality visual art education for their child.

Lucy Lucas P.

General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

Arts in action is an amazing program that produces incredibl results. I’ve been to the art show for the past several years and the quality of the kids work is astonishing. Angela, the founder and head teacher of arts in action is a warm, kind individual who specializes in seeing the creative talent of every child she teaches. She works with them one on one to learn the fundamentals and improve their art.

Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

Angela Tripi-Weiss' program began in the public schools and moved into the private non profit sector. She is an experienced and talented artist and teacher and has a multifaceted and layered approach to teaching children how to SEE and draw. I, myself, have been a special education teacher and administrator for over 40 years. Hands down, this is the finest art education program I have ever seen. Its NOT arts and crafts for beginners. Its simply fascinating to watch these young artists develop their talents under direct guidance.This program is inclusive and welcoming to all.

General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

I'm very close to the people that run the program. As a parent and business owner I've been nothing but impressed by the way they handle and inspire their students no matter the age

Client Served

Rating: 5

This is a fine art instruction program. It taught my children art skills that they have forever rather than just a quick piece of art to bring home. My eldest applied, and I feel easily, got in to LaGuardia High School specializing in art. She started Arts in Action when she was 7 years old and continued through to the professional portfolio years. The program is a wonderful gift that all of my children have been fortunate enough to participate in.
I am passionate about this program and all it has done for my family. Now I volunteer on the board to help provide this wonderful program to others.

Volunteer

Rating: 5

As a parent of two children who benefited from the AIA program many years ago.
Angela is a remarkable teacher and was an early influence on my daughter who now twenty years later has a exciting career in the art world
Thank you Angela!!!!

Volunteer

Rating: 5

I was an assistant art teacher at Arts in Action for two years and loved every minute of it. It is a very special program, different from other art classes you generally find for children. Angela Tripi-Weiss has created a beautiful way to teach children the fundamentals of art in an easy-to-understand way, while making it fun, and giving children the chance to experience different mediums. My own child has taken a class when we were back visiting, and he loved it. It is always amazing to see the art that is created in this class room. I also love that at the end of each semester there is a student art show. Makes it even more special.