Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona and the Herberger Theater Center are partnering for the 19th year to bring “Art Heals!,” a theatrical performance created and performed by teens to the public on Saturday, June 29 at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.  The performance will be held at Heberger Theater Center, located at 222 E. Monroe in Phoenix.  The performance is free, open to the public and suitable for children ages 10 and up. 

Free Arts’ Theater Camp brings together teens from foster care group homes, homeless shelters and treatment centers.  The young artists write and perform stories from their lives using acting techniques, music, dance, visual arts and spoken word poetry. 

Niya, a 17-year-old from Phoenix, is one of this year’s participants. She was first introduced to Free Arts when she, her mom, two sisters and brother were living at the Salvation Army homeless shelter.  One of the shelter workers signed her up for a Free Arts Camp and she was dreading it! By the end of the first week, she was begging the Free Arts staff to accept her into Theater Camp.  Niya has gained self-confidence and a love for the arts.  She even started auditioning for local theater productions. She’s been a Theater Camp participant for the past three years and this will be her eighth Free Arts Camp.

“I like watching the transformation of people the best,” said Niya.  “I was really shy and quiet before I came to Free Arts.  When the performers are able to step out of their shells, it’s beautiful to watch.  It shows what art can do.  It gave me confidence and now I love being on stage!”

Free Arts Theater Camp is one of the programs the recent $2.5 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation is funding.  The generous donation was made in July 2017 to purchase the nonprofit’s building and provide initial renovation funding, as well as provide funding to the Professional Artist Series and Camp Program.   The Free Arts Theater Camp was also recently selected as a finalist of the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence - Awards of Excellence for Innovation Award.

To RSVP for the performance on June 29, visit: https://www.freeartsaz.org/events/.