Art Buddies

“Expenses office expenses -operation 7,296 parking 1,363 art supplies 5,604 program office expense 170 program parking 42 misc 64 storage 6,079 misc 3,237 non-investment depreciation 391 total 24,246”

“-4,332 beginning balances differ from prior year form 990-ez due to post-filing bookkeeping adjustments to credit card liabilities and related expenses. Prior period corrections are reflected in beginning net assets.”

“Office equipment and furniture 10,934 10,934 less accumulated depreciation 10,543 10,934 total 391 0”

“Us bank line of credit 0 17,502 payroll liabilities 13,161 6,338 credit cards -4,556 353”

“The mission of art buddies is to bring the power of one-to-one creative mentoring to twin cities children from high need schools and communities. Art buddies helps children connect the child with their self and their community, to give them agency over their artistry and ideas, to inspire creative expression and sense of personal agency, and to help the child build a strong sense of creative confidence. Art buddies annually pairs 200 creative mentors, one-to-one with 200 twin cities public school kids (ages 8-11). Each program features 8-10 weekly workshops. Mentors also help the kids develop writing, project planning and storytelling skills by creating a special journal of their art buddies experience called a buddy book. At the end of each program, the kids become "stars" posing with their creations and mentors for portraits by professional photographers. The children celebrate their accomplishments with a parade and presentation for schoolmates, teachers, family and friends. The art buddies program is unique and is the only enrichment program in the minneapolis/st paul area that pairs creative mentors one-to-one with elementary-age children. The creative mentors introduce the kids to exciting creative careers while helping them discover what they can do and who they can become through the power of creativity. Art buddies was founded in 1994 by former art director/designer sue crolick. Since its beginning, it has recruited thousands of creative mentors and mentored thousands of twin cities kids.”

“In fiscal year 2024-2025, art buddies served over 200 children, ages 8-11, from high need schools and communities in minneapolis and st. Paul. Art buddies provides its free creative mentor programming and art education to schools at which at least 75% of the student body receives free and reduced lunch program, as the metric for poverty. Any scholar at a participating school is eligible to participate in our free program. 90% of participating children were children of color. We recruited 200 creative mentors to work one-on-one with the children. We produced eight after- school art buddies programs, at our partner schools: whittier international elementary, lucy laney elementary, hall stem academy, and bancroft elementary. Our mentors helped the children do the following: 1. Form a positive relationship with a creative adult 2. Discover their creative potential and learn applied artistic skills 3. Boost their self-esteem by creating something ambitious and unique 4. Increase their motivation to learn by giving them an exciting reason to come to school and explore 5. Learn the creative process of conceiving, planning and producing 6. Explore creative career possibilities the children's teachers and principals continually confirm the positive impact of the art buddies program. The teachers observed student improvement in problem-solving ability, behavior, attitude, motivation to learn, school attendance and social skills. They report the mastery students develop in art buddies, as well as the positive relationships they form with creative adults that enhance their students' self-esteem.”