UPDATED SEPTEMBER 1, 2003 Contacts: 510.465.8770 x310 voice 510.465.0772 fax Rae Holzman, Associate Director, Museum programs (ext 310) Links: Art for Life Foundation ...and at Children's Hospital Share your heart with arts in the courts by becoming a volunteer.

arts in the courts The History. The Arts in the Courts Workshop is partnership between the Art For Life Foundation, MOCHA, and the Alameda County Superior Court Family Mediation Court. The idea of Art in the Courts is a very simple one - to make the family mediation court environment a more nurturing and healing experience for children by allowing them to create art. Art gives children a voice and this form of self-expression allows children involved in custody cases or the foster care system to feel a positive part of the court process instead of apart from it. It also gives children a positive feeling about their experience that day in court. The Arts in the Courts Workshop. Initiated in May 2001, the Arts in the Courts Workshop takes place at the Alameda County Family Mediation Court and is for children between the ages of 4 and 17. Art in the Courts operates on Tuesdays from 1:30pm-3:30pm, a time when the greatest number of young people are waiting for custody or foster care family mediation court appearances. Arts in the Courts is volunteer run and operates on a drop-in basis. The volunteer artists set up art stations Š always having a painting and drawing station available, offering a project of the week, and also allowing children to do a project of their own choosing. The Arts in the Courts Art Studio is a large, airy space provided by the court. The Art studio is safe and accessible and is used only for art making - "court" conversations with parents or attorneys do not take place in the studio. Most importantly, the volunteer artists are present for children during a stressful time and encourage children to create art to express themselves. Not only do the children interact with artists but they also became involved with each other through a shared art activity. The Arts in the Courts Philosophy. The Art for Life Foundation and the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) believe that art can make a powerful and creative difference in the lives of young people. The Art for Life Foundation believes that the process of creating art is healing and through the Arts in the Courts Program ensure Art and Children working together, creating together, healing together. The Impact of Arts in the Courts. Arts in the Court has an impact in many ways. The smiles on the faces of the children creating art. Helping children feel less fear in an environment that can be intimidating and stressful. Creating an environment that is for children. The art that a child in the Art in the Courts program may well be their first introduction to art and gives them a great sense of self esteem, a way of expressing a part of who they are. We canÕt say how a simple day of art will affect the life of a child. But we know that creating art opens up opportunities for children that continue on throughout their entire lives. The Future of Arts in the Courts. Beginning with one workshop the Arts in the Courts Project demonstrates that the arts play a key role in enriching the lives of children. To date this once per week program has reached over 500 children awaiting family mediation court. It is our long-term goal to have this work become a model that can be emulated in other courts across the country. Funders