Mission Statement
The mission of Doing Art Together (DAT) is to awaken and enrich the intellectual, social, and cultural development of under-resourced New York City youth, inspiring them to pursue their learning. We accomplish this by engaging youth in the visual arts, igniting the participation of their family network, and building enduring partnerships with their educational community.
We are a non-profit arts education organization that provides hands-on programs to under-served audiences. DAT’s programs build skills that enhance the ability to learn and are easily transferred from the classroom to life.
Description
Vision
DAT aims to offer high quality arts education programs that level the educational playing field for children and youth (ages 2-22), who come from under-resourced communities. We use art as an entry point for learning for the participants and a tool for engagement for parents and families to get involved in their children’s education. We hope through our work that art will open minds, enrich lives and ultimately transform communities.
What We Believe
The DAT philosophy of art education emphasizes process. DAT believes that the greatest value to be gained from doing art is often the experience itself, internalized for future reference.
Trained art instructors encourage all students to experiment with a variety of materials, express their own ideas and feelings and make discoveries. With this emphasis on the relationship between thinking and doing art, students develop invaluable tools for everyday living -- imagination, observation, and creative problem-solving skills.
The DAT philosophy embraces a non-judgmental approach to art in which no student’s work is considered better, or not as good as that of another. In this supportive environment, everyone succeeds and takes pride in a final exhibition.
