This year, Project Create, a community-based nonprofit organization, marks a monumental milestone – 30 years of working to empower children in Washington, D.C. through transformative arts education. Founded in 1994 by Rev. John Wimberly, Project Create’s journey began in a small office in the Western Presbyterian Church in Foggy Bottom. Our inaugural programs were created to provide easy access to high-quality arts education to children all over the city, especially those experiencing challenges like homelessness and poverty. Today Project Create continues to work in close collaboration with community-based partners, including housing providers, community centers, DC Department of Parks and Recreation, DC Public Library, DC Public and Public Charter Schools and many other youth-serving organizations. Our partnerships ensure that Project Create’s services are available broadly in DC communities, combatting existing barriers to accessibility.
Three decades later, Project Create has blossomed into a sanctuary of artistic expression, now housed in a spacious arts center in Anacostia. At the Project Create Arts Center, experienced arts administrators, teaching artists and art therapists offer a wide array of creative programs, including visual arts, digital media art, performing arts and art therapy. Project Create is more than art space: we’re safe space, a welcoming creative home for children, youth and families all over the District.
Project Create’s mission is rooted in the belief that art is a strong catalyst for youth empowerment and healing. Our free programs are thoughtfully designed to teach artistic skills and to nurture personal growth in our students. Project Create serves children and their families in underserved neighborhoods in the District, mostly in DC Wards 7 and 8. Many of the children who attend programming at the Project Create Arts Center in Southeast D.C. have faced challenges such as homelessness and violence. The cornerstone of the organization’s work is to create an artistic home where creativity sparks personal development and forges strong connections in an accessible environment that is both supportive and therapeutic.
Project Create’s newest program is HeART Space, a trauma-informed art therapy program launched in 2021 in response to the increased need for mental health support during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our HeART Space family groups, facilitated by professional art therapists, provide a platform for expression around identity, healthy communication and family dynamics. Our child-focused art therapy program, including visual, dance, and music therapy, promotes healing and wellness.
It has been affirming to watch HeART Space quickly become a beloved program, one that is growing into a transformative experience for our children and families. In every session, we watch our children flourish and our families find new ways to relate to each other. Simon, an enthusiastic 7-year-old, said of his HeART Space experience, “I have fun painting and spending time with my dad.” Keyonna, a young mom of two, told us that she “loves bonding with my family over art. And it’s not just for kids. It’s an opportunity for me to grow, too.”
Our art therapists provide evidence of meaningful impact in the lives of our families, including dramatic increases in parent engagement. Parents are reporting big gains in their ability to support their children, as well as in stress reduction, confidence in parenting and the use of encouragement and affirmation to strengthen their family relationships. Parents also see gains in their children’s development, including emotional regulation, confidence, communication skills, problem-solving, curiosity and healthy exploration. And overall, parents and children are reporting big decreases in stress. HeART Space is working!
Want to join the fun? One exciting opportunity to try out a Project Create program happens on Saturdays at Family Art Day at the Project Create Arts Center. During this fun and engaging two-hour workshop, children and families of all ages come together to engage in creative activities, such as making a family tapestry, trying out improv theater, creating paper flowers or painting self-portraits. These all-ages sessions have been a community favorite ever since we opened our studio doors in 2015. Join us and see what we’re all about!
As we celebrate Project Create’s past 30 years and look forward to the future, we honor our “pearls” – the amazingly talented young artists whose creativity and courage inspire us to continue our work.
For more information about Project Create’s programs and to learn how you can contribute to our mission, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, connect with us on Facebook or Instagram, or contact us at info@projectcreatedc.org.
Christie Walser joined Project Create as Executive Director in 2010, bringing decades of arts administration experience, a passionate commitment to child advocacy and a lifelong avocation as an actor and director. A DMV resident of 30 years, she believes strongly in the healing, transformative power of art in the life of a child.
