Arts+ Sees Continued Success with ArtsReach

Through ArtsReach, one of our numerous outreach programs, Arts+ applies our arts expertise to existing groups with limited resources, providing outstanding and accessible arts education. Caroline Tippett, Visual Arts Director at Arts+, has been involved in the ArtsReach program since 2017. She was initially a teacher with ArtsReach, but now, Caroline helps to set up initial partnerships, maintain relationships, and design the perfect program for our partners. Handling MOUs, logistics, and contracts, Caroline still teaches in some of the current ArtsReach programs. In the five years since she started, Caroline has noticed growth in the partners she has been with since the beginning — today’s programs are beginning to encompass more sites and have a greater range in diversity of offerings.

A present goal of ArtsReach includes expanding partnerships. Those in current partnership with ArtsReach include Renaissance West Community Initiative, The Retreat at Renaissance West, Greater Enrichment Program sites, Community Services Association @ First Baptist Church-West, Alexander Youth Network, Families Forward Charlotte, Safe Alliance, and The Relatives. Instructors will now be available to work with Greater Enrichment program sites for an additional day of the week, and there are also plans to bring in guest artists at The Retreat to join in on a successful, long-term relationship with Arts+.

ArtsReach’s outreach coordinator, Tashonda Wright, puts classes together and teaches most of them, too. Tashonda has been involved with ArtsReach for a few years, and, just like Caroline, she has seen growth in stronger connections with partners, locations, the number of students attending, and number of repeat students.

ArtsReach recently hosted an event with the Catawba Lands Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to saving land and connecting people to nature. Their first event together went well, and Tashonda is hoping for a further relationship with this impactful organization. Another upcoming partnership is with HopeKids, a local Charlotte nonprofit that works with children that have life-threatening illnesses. ArtsReach will plan for a number of workshop activities, and Caroline hopes for further growth in the relationship.

Last year, as the first fully in-person year since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, ArtsReach saw considerable growth in partnerships — there were more partnerships than before the pandemic, and there are plans in the works for more. At this point, Tashonda and Caroline hope to maintain and grow in the partnerships ArtsReach holds, keeping a steady pace with an eye out for new opportunities.

Learn more about the ArtsReach program.

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