ArtVan

ArtVan Our mission is to bring strengths-based art therapy to youth living in under-resourced communities. On Dec. 12 2012 ArtVan was approved its 501c3.

The ArtVan Program began in 2004 in collaboration with the City of Bath’s Community Development Office to bring free arts to two low-income Bath housing developments, with the mission to enrich the lives of youth who did not have access to recreational activities in Bath, Maine. Encouraged by high attendance levels, enthusiastic participants, and grateful parents, we continued our services with se

veral grant awards and community support. During 2006 and 2007, ArtVan expanded to the “Tree Street” low-income housing neighborhood in Lewiston, two housing developments in Auburn, a subsidized Brunswick housing development (Perryman Village), and a low-income neighborhood of Biddeford, Maine. In June of 2011, after six years of successful programming through Volunteers of America and VSA Maine, ArtVan incorporated as a State of Maine non-profit. Awaiting approval from IRS for 501c3 tax-exempt status, Joyful Harvest in Biddeford, Me., served as ArtVan’s Fiscal Sponsor.

05/28/2026

This week‘s project was designed around the Theme of “bridges “. During our check-in, we asked Youth “what challenges do you have” They were invited to “bridge” one experience to another, or bridge a feeling to another, such as going from feeling angry to feeling joy, or going from the structure of school to going home for the summer.
Many of the Youth spoke about bridging to their families, others said to their friends, others said, feeling happy.
For materials, we used foam core, which was bendable to create our bridge onto a mat board base and used markers to add details.
The Youth in this video will often share about conflicts with friends not wanting to play with her. Her art form seemed to share many challenges and barriers to getting across her bridge safely.

When you purchase this latte, you're helping ensure ArtVan programming stays free to the 800+ participants we serve!Plus...
05/27/2026

When you purchase this latte, you're helping ensure ArtVan programming stays free to the 800+ participants we serve!
Plus - each latte comes with a coffee sleeve decorated by an ArtVan participant, and when you purchase
Available at Reverie Coffee House in Brunswick through May!

ArtVan's roots are in bringing creative wellness to underserved communities living below average income and that mission...
05/26/2026

ArtVan's roots are in bringing creative wellness to underserved communities living below average income and that mission never wavers. But the need for meaningful human connection and group healing doesn't stop there.
Employees are burned out, turnover is costly, and superficial wellness perks no longer cut it. Today's workforce demands whole-person support: skill development, mental, emotional and social support. ArtVan's group art therapy process delivers exactly that. Our facilitated sessions build teamwork, spark creative thinking, reduce stress and give employees a shared experience.
ArtVan recently exhibited and spoke at the Maine SHRM HR Convention. We shared the message that creative exploration and self-expression isn't solely reserved for neighborhood programs, but can be extremely beneficial for the workplace as well.
Ready to bring ArtVan to your team? Let's talk: [email protected]!

Are you redoing your kitchen or bathroom (or dreaming of it)?! This workshop is for you!Mood Board 101. Learn how to go ...
05/22/2026

Are you redoing your kitchen or bathroom (or dreaming of it)?! This workshop is for you!
Mood Board 101. Learn how to go from Pinterest chaos to a refined design concept for a kitchen (or bathroom). Participants will gather fifteen to twenty inspiration images and start to build a design direction. You'll review interior design styles and discuss examples of taking mood boards through to a finished project. You'll walk away with a mood board for your project.
Register >> https://artvan.ddock.gives/?givingPageId=0e77c38d-900c-4a78-8204-802c3ab28e61

The FROM WITHIN opening exhibit showed us "transformation is possible, even in the hardest places."ArtVan's free group a...
05/22/2026

The FROM WITHIN opening exhibit showed us "transformation is possible, even in the hardest places."
ArtVan's free group art therapy works to help participants avoid acute care in institutions later on. By helping them build an emotional tool-kit they will have the skills to work through everyday stressors and more complex uncertainties. We know that the issues like homelessness or crime that plague our society are products of individuals who did not receive swift intervention or mental health support early on in their lives.
This played out in the incarcerated men who created these paintings. Many of them have dealt with crippling anxiety for most of their lives or PTSD after time in the military. The Colorful Transformations program at the Lawrenceville Correctional Center has helped them use art as a way to work through their mental health challenges and allows them the opportunity to "not only be known for the worst decision they made in their lives."
FROM WITHIN is a pop-up art show happening throughout the summer and hosted at Orange Bike Brewing Company, The Mix and Reverie Coffee House. Proceeds of each painting sold benefit ArtVan. Learn more >>
https://www.heart-strong.org/from-within -up-shows

Join us at ReVision Energy for an exhibition on the healing power of art and what can happen when we come together as a ...
05/20/2026

Join us at ReVision Energy for an exhibition on the healing power of art and what can happen when we come together as a community.
The paintings by these five men "is proof that transformation is possible, even in the hardest places."
Proceeds benefit ArtVan and help us continue bringing the opportunity for transformation to every participant we work with.

Art is more than expression—it’s a gateway to understanding the world around us. It can teach. It can activate. It can c...
05/14/2026

Art is more than expression—it’s a gateway to understanding the world around us.
It can teach. It can activate. It can connect. At ArtVan, we collaborate with organizations to use art as a powerful tool for exploring ideas beyond the canvas, like literacy, climate awareness, emotional growth, and community connection.
We collaborated with the Earth Day Festival in Brunswick, where we invited participants to create Earth-inspired artworks, turning creativity into a hands-on conversation about environmental stewardship.
Whether they arrived already passionate about caring for the planet or discovered that connection through the experience, art became the bridge.

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Brunswick, ME

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+12072006944

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