Our goal is to offer an enrichment program that introduces many art forms to low-income, under-served children of Marin County. Children will have the opportunity to learn from Marin County guest artists, and they will become active participants in various art genres. Many of these children might not otherwise have the chance to experience dance, drama, art, song, or attend a live performance – Art From the Heart makes this all possible. We recognize that these children could very well be our next generation of guest artists because they were given the chance to experience it first hand.

Art From The Heart works with over 250 children from the Novato Children Center, Manzanita Center located in Marin City, Canal Child Care Center, San Pedro Elementary School After-School Program and the Timothy Murphy School for Boys at Saint Vincent’s in Marinwood.

Guest Artists

African Dance/Drumming – Drummers Gabe Harris, Ken Doumbia and Wade Peterson have taught the children different rhythms and songs of the African culture.  Professional dancers, Naby Bangoura and Kim Agnew have introduced the children to authentic African dances.
Sing-a-long / Using your Voice – Musicians, Kele Gasparini and Amy Wigton, lead a sing-a-long on their guitars, teaching the children new songs and how to use their voice.
Drama Games/Developing a character – Actor, Carl Jordan, works with the children on improvisation skills, what it takes to develop a character and various drama games. Pastels – Connie Zabokrtsky instructed the children on how to work with pastels creating wonderful, colorful cityscapes.
Storytelling – Gene Ptak and Kirk Waller bring stories with valuable lessons to life with their engaging story telling skills. Mural Painting –Local artist, Danny Gasparini, led the children in the design and painting of four wonderful wall murals – a colorful underwater scene and a redwood tree setting with the boys from Timothy Murphy, an outdoor mural of a map of the world, including flags of many countries, with the children at the Novato Children’s Center, and a garden themed mural with the children at San Pedro School. 
Contemporary Dance – Professional dancer, Tom Mayok, leads the children in various dance routines encouraging them to use their imaginations and enjoy all types of movement.
Tai Chi –Robert Ito, from Ito White Tiger Karate in Novato, introduces the students to the discipline, history, and fine art of Tai Chi.
Street Dancing –The Urban Apache Street Dancers get the students up and moving with their exciting street dancing / break dancing techniques.
Quilt Making – Textile Artist, Victoria Gonzalez worked with the children to create quilts to be donated to Children’s Hospital and given to seriously ill children.
Movement thru Yoga – Anne Jack and Teresa Owen introduced the students to an ancient form of movement by teaching a yoga class.
In 2009 students of the Novato Children's Center and the Canal Child Care Center were guests of Marin Ballet where the ballet students gave them a private dance demonstration and performed excerpts from the “Nutcracker” ballet .
Students attend a production of the Masque Unit Junior Theater's - in 2010 the students will be seeing "Cinderella".
Spring musical production the students make their own costumes and learn skits, songs, and dances to perform in a musical production of their very own for family and friends. Additional art forms –being introduced to the students are: ceramics, mosaics, sculpture, paper Mache, water colors, and pastels.

Currently we are working very closely with the Marin Community Child Development Centers, Community Action Marin, Marin Arts Council, Art Works Downtown in San Rafael, San Pedro Elementary School After-School Program, and Timothy Murphy School for Boys. Our goal is to expand our program to reach other organizations servicing Marin County children in need.