Story & Mission
The Art Impact Project Story
Art Impact Project was born from a mother's love and an artist's vision.
In 2014, our founder (an artist and Lake County resident) created our organization after witnessing firsthand how art-making could help adolescents in drug and alcohol treatment. Inspiration came while supporting a family member through recovery and participating in family group sessions. She noticed that despite access to specialized services, words alone were not enough to support adolescents in treatment. After approaching a local intensive outpatient program with the idea of leading an art project to assist existing programming, she witnessed something remarkable: during that first session, many teens who had been quiet for months became their most verbal and expressive while making and discussing their art. In that moment of connection, care, and creativity, Art Impact Project was born.
Our Mission
Art Impact Project enhances emotional wellness through creative expression. We believe that art-making is one of the most powerful untapped sources of intervention available, especially at a time when access to mental health care is extremely limited and the need has never been higher.
Our programming is specifically curated for each population we serve, from middle school students to senior citizens. We offer over 100 specifically designed projects with clear objectives such as increasing positive self-awareness, building confidence, and promoting empathy for others.
