Exposure to the arts can help young minds in various ways as a path for self-expression, acquiring skills, and developing focus and teamwork. Unfortunately, with the decline of art exposure in schools, a lot of young minds do not have access to high-quality, engaging arts experiences at school. What narrow arts experiences young minds have often dull arts and crafts projects where they are instructed to follow a prototype, rather than create something from their own imagination the showcase their individual self-expression.

Many young minds grow up with minimal understanding of what high-quality programs are like, or what benefits may accrue from participation. Even when there is awareness or interest in out-of-school arts programs, many young people choose other activities for a variety of reasons. Further, community groups often report a steep drop-off in teen engagement and participation in theses out-of-school programs.

The Vision Authority is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Vision Authority has been formed to provide unique and meaningful therapy and art programming for youth in Cleveland Ohio and surrounding areas, to expose children to the arts, and to spark interest in utilizing the arts in the business world. We plan to offer a dynamic and constantly evolving program. Although we will incorporate all the fine arts into our programs, our focus is on visual art and recording arts as well as therapeutic alternatives using the arts. The program will be staffed by working artists and volunteers, and all structured activities will be led by knowledgeable and enthusiastic artist-teachers.

Evidence shows that children with high levels of arts participation outperform arts deprived students by virtually every measure. This study has found evidence that learning in the arts helps develop habits that will support other disciplines, and that it can often reach at-risk students when other disciplines cannot. The program will provide young people with genuine learning experiences that engage their minds, hearts, and bodies. Arts education helps students learn; it can enhance creativity, self-discipline, and the skills and confidence necessary to meet the challenges encountered during their lives.