Art House of Dream
With over 36 years experience in art education, Sister Diane Couture, SSJ launched the Art House of Dreams to bring art to inter-city children.
- Our mission of the Art House of Dreams is to provide a nurturing environment where children can experience self-expression, self-awareness and self-discipline through the arts and culture.
- Our purpose is to provide high quality visual and creative art classes for children who may not experience such in school or in the home.
- Our goal is to develop a comprehensive art enrichment program that will strengthen the community and promote lifelong learning and expression through the arts.
In 1992, the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine opened the SSJ Architectural Stained Glass studio (www.ssjstainedglass.com) because they believed that the need for the arts in the lives of all people, especially in children, is as real as the need for bread. The Sisters believe the civilizing values of the arts are essential to the development of full human beings and the next generation of good citizens. The Lace Legacy Society was established to provide financial support to the Art House of Dreams.
The Art House of Dreams, working with a local social service agency, provides instruction in stained glass, mosaics, glass etching and large variety of fine art paintings and arts and craft in a safe, nurturing and caring atmosphere.
Learning Objectives include: learn hard work, skills, discipline and teamwork; gain a greater sense of character and confidence; recognize and applaud accomplishments; mentored by caring adults in a safe environment; immerse themselves in beauty, creativity and the humanizing values of the arts; express themselves and have fun; and discover who they are, who they can become and that they can do anything they set their minds to.
After school programs are proven to lower juvenile crime rates and generally improve neighborhoods and not just by keeping youth occupied for a few hours everyday. After school programs help young people succeed by providing academic support and the chance to form meaningful relationships with adults from their community, and by encouraging them to get involved in their neighborhood through service projects. This support, these relationships and the benefits to the community create a mutually beneficial relationship of immeasurable value.
