Mission: The Art of Elysium is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization founded in 1997, by Jennifer Howell. We empower artists and communities of need to join together and emotionally triumph over their circumstances through art.
Target demographics: At-Risk Youth, Special Education Schools, Special Needs Community Centers for Adults, Youth dealing with Diabetes, Senior Community Centers, Homeless Adults & Elders, Homeless Youth and Families, Hospitalized Youth and Adults, Subacute Care Facilities, Visually Impaired
Direct beneficiaries per year: 43000 individuals
Geographic areas served: Los Angeles
Programs: We believe in using art as a catalyst for social change. Our “full circle” approach engages emerging artists in inspiring acts of service that forge opportunities for them to share their creativity in diverse and meaningful ways with individuals of need. We support and acknowledge our volunteer artists by providing platforms to showcase their art within the community.
We thrive on our ability to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for the mutual exchange between artist and individuals in need.
We provide artistic workshops in the following disciplines: Fashion & Design, Theatre & Film, Music & Movement and Visual Arts Programs.
Art facilitates a freedom to think about life in ways never thought before. Our programs are designed to support individuals in the midst of difficult emotional life challenges like illness, hospitalization, displacement, confinement, and/or crisis by providing a variety of creative tools to help them realize relief, happiness, liberation and self-empowerment through exploration and expression in social and collaborative ways.
For more information about volunteering in our community arts programs, please contact our Program Director, Leslie Culp at lculp@theartofelysium.org.
It will be 19 years of The Art of Elysium on August 15, 2016 and it has been an amazing journey. I stand in absolute awe of our artists, people that we are able to bring the joy of arts to and the incredible staff that literally bridges the gap between these communities. We started out serving hospitalized children and have expanded to also serve elders and the homeless community. We look forward to taking the healing power of arts into prisons and veterans hospitals and to any other place where people can heal their lives through artistic expression.
kristen
Professional with expertise in this field
04/20/2015
Rating: 5
04/20/2015
I have been blessed to have so many various roles with The Art of Elysium and have seen the organization from all sides. This year the artists have expanded to work with hospitalized youth, elder care facilities, the homeless community and will be expanding into prisons and veterans hospitals. The greatest gift is to be of service through our personal creative process. The AofE bridges the gap between artists and those in need and that is a true blessing.
I am blown away on a daily basis by the children that we work with, the artists that both inspire and are inspired, the staff that brings me so much joy and the gift of being of service that The Art of Elysium provides.
I am the founding board member for The Art of Elysium and over the past 13 years I have seen every side of this organization's mission. I have witnessed the impact that the creative workshops have had on the hospitalized children we serve and I have seen the miracles the exchange has given to the artists that volunteer their time. It is a full circle exchange of creative miracles that do not just impact the participants during the workshops but forever change both the patients and volunteers. The Art of Elysium is a community of artists that truly believe in the power of creativity and the healing power of art. We are blessed that we are able to serve as a bridge between the artistic community in both Los Angeles and New York and to children facing hospitalization and medical various medical conditions. We are sincerely grateful for every staff member, volunteer, artist, parent and child that we are fortunate enough to work with. The organization is growing and will continue to grow by the goodwill and support of all involved and yet to come into the charity. The best way to understand the mission of The Art of Elysium is to spend time as a volunteer. Get involved!
The staff and volunteers of The Art of Elysium are some of the most dedicated individuals I've ever met and the differences they've made in the lives of hospitalized children in Los Angeles and New York is incredible. It takes a tremendous amount of strength to work with children day in and day out, many of whom are in very dire medical predicaments, and folks at this organization do it with pride, compassion, spirit and dignity.
