Supporting Artists at Every Stage

5 hours ago

3 min read

From First Creative Experiences to Professional Careers

Photo by Robert Armbrust

Every child is creative.

Sometimes, all they need is the opportunity - and the tools - to discover it.

At Dogwood Arts, we believe creativity is more than making art. It’s a way of thinking, exploring, problem-solving, expressing ideas, and seeing the world from a different perspective. That’s why we’re passionate about creating opportunities for young people to get curious, get creative, and make something of their own.

One of the ways we put that belief into action is through our Art Kits for Kids program, an initiative that puts real art supplies directly into the hands of students across East Tennessee.

7,500 Kids. Every Year.

Every year, Dogwood Arts provides 7,500 Art Kits for Kids to fifth-grade students in Knox, Anderson, and Blount Counties.

That means thousands of young people receive their own collection of art supplies; tools they can use to draw, create, experiment, and explore their imagination.

For some students, it might be the first time they've had a set of art supplies that feels like it truly belongs to them. For others, it might be the spark that encourages them to try something new, develop a creative skill, or discover a lifelong passion.

Creativity Is an Essential Skill

Art gives kids a chance to do something incredibly important: make their own choices.What should I draw? What color should I use? What happens if I try it this way instead? What if I make a mistake?

There isn't always one right answer — and that's part of the magic!

Creative experiences encourage children to experiment, take risks, solve problems, communicate ideas, and learn that mistakes can be part of the process. They give kids a space where curiosity is rewarded and their individual perspective matters.

And when we give young people the tools to create, we're not just helping them make art. We're helping them build confidence in their ability to imagine, explore, and make something new.

It Takes an Army

Getting 7,500 art kits into classrooms every year is no small task.

This summer and fall, an incredible group of Dogwood Arts volunteers spent 180 hours in our warehouse sorting supplies, assembling materials, and packing 7,500 individual Art Kits for Kids — one kit at a time.

That's 180 hours of people coming together because they believe kids deserve opportunities to be creative.

We're incredibly grateful for every volunteer who gave their time, energy, and enthusiasm to make this program possible. Their work may have happened behind the scenes, but its impact will be felt in classrooms throughout three counties all year long.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Artists

Art Kits for Kids is just one of the many ways Dogwood Arts works to inspire and support the next generation of artists and creatives.

From opportunities for young artists to participate in community events to programs that bring art into public spaces, we believe creativity should be accessible to everyone, and that young people should have opportunities to see themselves as artists.

Because the next great painter, designer, sculptor, photographer, filmmaker, illustrator, architect, or creative thinker might be sitting in a fifth-grade classroom right now. Maybe they just need someone to give them a pencil, a paintbrush, a blank page, and the encouragement to see what they can do.

That's what the Art Kits for Kids program is all about.

Seven thousand five hundred kits.
Seven thousand five hundred young people.
Seven thousand five hundred invitations to create.

And who knows how many ideas, discoveries, and future artists those invitations will inspire?

Making Creativity Possible

A program with a reach this big takes a community, and we are incredibly grateful to the organizations that help make Art Kits for Kids possible.

We couldn’t put 7,500 art kits into the hands of students each year without the generous support of ORNL Federal Credit Union, Stand Out for Good, Inc., Newell Brands, Tennessee Valley Authority, Pilot Company, Tennessee Arts Commission, and National Endowment for the Arts. Their investment in this program helps ensure that thousands of East Tennessee students have access to the tools they need to explore their creativity.

We’re also grateful to Graphic Creations and Hart Graphics for providing essential printing support that helps bring the program together.

These partnerships are a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared belief: every child deserves the opportunity to create.

To all of our sponsors, partners, and volunteers — thank you for helping us put creativity into the hands of the next generation.