Art That Heals, Inc.: Our Goals

Some of our goals are to:

• Provide a creative means for self-expression.
• Illustrate the enormity of the cultural literacy gap in the Rio Grande Valley.
• Increase public awareness of the need for art in daily life.
• Introduce the public to local artists of the past and present.
• Assist with art education.
• Raise funds for community-based cultural events.
• Use art as a creative means to honor people living with HIV and AIDS and to honor the memory of people who have died of AIDS.

Other Potential Goals (Note: This is just a brainstorm of ideas, nothing concrete.):

1. Establish a cultural arts center (in Hidalgo County?)
2. Sponsor AIDS Mastery Retreats.
3. Conduct art contests.
4. Conduct annual cultural festivals highlighting the uniqueness of the Valley and its people through art which originates here.
5. Sponsor juried art shows.
6. Sponsored juried film festivals.
7. Provide a registry of local artists, especially useful to network between buyers of art and artists, but also to network between artists and students, filmmakers, the media, etc.
8. Serve as a clearinghouse for local art/cultural history.
9. Lead the hosting of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt displays.
10. Sponsor or connect all interested persons to art classes, and sponsor special sessions to HIV-affected persons wishing to learn more about art, how-to, etc.
11. Release a book on art, poetry, etc. by and about HIV/AIDS-affected persons in the Valley. (or release magazine-style booklet annually, then every few years, compile best-of for hardback book.)