Art from the Heart

Art From the Heart founders Sheila Jones + Kathy Eggert welcome families to Art Day, sponsored by AWD, at San Pedro Elementary

Art from the Heart Marin is a non-profit community organization that reaches out to children of low-income, underserved families by providing after-school enrichment programs in many art forms. The program gives children the opportunity to get actively involved in the arts - they become the artist, the performer, and the audience member.

Founded in 2007 by Kathy Eggert and Sheila Jones, the program recruits, coordinates, and oversees guest artists in various media. Their goal is to empower children through experiences in music, voice, visual art, and dance; build their self-confidence; and give them an opportunity to develop an appreciation and love of the arts.

students painting a mural at San Pedro Elementary School (photo: Sheila Jone)

Some of the children involved have no in-school access to art, music, or physical education programs. Art from the Heart provides an important source of inspiration, creative expression, and enjoyment for these underserved children. Depending on each guest artist's area of expertise, Art from the Heart has offered new experiences in mural painting, pastel sketching, quilt making, African dance and drumming, contemporary and street dancing, and original musical productions.

The program currently serves more than 250 children in Marin County:

Novato Children's Center, Novato
Manzanita Center, Marin City
Canal Child Center, San Rafael
San Pedro Elementary School, San Rafael
Timothy Murphy School for Boys (St. Vincent's), Marinwood

Art Works Downtown is proud to partner with Art from the Heart to help spark creativity and bring working artists into schools in our community.