Education Programs
ABOUT
Art for Animals' Sake (AFAS) improves problem-solving skills, fosters creativity and encourages self-expression through the arts. In AFAS programs, animals are the central theme, providing the participants with meaningful connections to their art.
Helping Build Community and Improve the Lives of Animals
Building upon the natural empathy youth have for animals, Art for Animals' Sake instills empathy for animals through fun filled art enrichment opportunities while simultaneously conveying valuable life lessons though group participation.
Education Programs:
A.R.T. (Animals R terrific)
AFAS classes provide hands-on, dynamic, and informative arts education led by professional teaching artists. Our classes are open to individuals of all skill levels, are free to eligible participants, and all materials are provided.
Our classes engage students in creative, skill-building activities as part of a safe, cooperative community with animal empathy themes, incorporating aspects of humane and art education.
Creating Compassion Workshops
During these workshops, students learn about and are introduced to animals as individuals with complex emotional lives.Creating in depth art projects and practicing critical observation, students discover the connections we all share with non-human animals.
All beings are individuals with complex social and emotional lives. It is our goal to teach youth through art education that every life is worthy of our respect and compassion. AFAS firmly opposes animal exploitation in any way. The focus of these workshops are to improve the human bond with animals. A goal of AFAS is to foster these loving bonds through direct contact accompanied with education.
Art for Animals classes are open to all ages and artistic levels. We also provide exposure to animals, which helps children develop curiosity and inquisitiveness, broadening their understanding of the world around them in a positive memorable way.
Our Mission
Our Impact
Uniting professional teaching artists as well as animal education organizations, AFAS achieves its mission-driven goals:
Engage youth in activities that increase self-esteem
Art education helps participants develop a variety of skills to enrich their long-term quality of life. Through the transformative experience of working in the visual arts and interacting with animals, our students, both youth and adults, learn important social and communication skills while adapting important coping mechanisms.
Breakdown the traditional barriers that exist in accessing art
Workshops help address the problem of decreased art education programs in public schools by offering students of all backgrounds and experience a variety of art mediums, including painting, drawing and photography.
Improving current and future relationship between youth and animals
In academic research, bullying and domestic violence are strongly correlated to animal abuse and neglect. Our goal is to create a safe space for both self-expression and animals in our community and deter abusive behavior through creative expression.