At Free Arts, volunteers are the heart of our mission. Whether you mentor weekly, help at a one-day event, or lend a hand in our office, every hour you give creates moments of connection and creativity for children who have experienced trauma. You don’t need to be an artist—just someone who cares. With training, support, and a welcoming community, you’ll find that giving your time also enriches your own life. To begin the process of serving with Free Arts, you start by attending a Volunteer Info Session. This one-hour, virtual event provides details on Free Arts’ programming and how to support our diverse programming in a volunteer capacity.
The Weekly Mentor Program matches pairs of volunteer mentors with groups of youth participants living in social service agencies, where they provide recurring art-making sessions for 8-16 weeks. Volunteer mentors use trauma-informed techniques to build relationships with their group, helping children build trust and express themselves creatively.
The Professional Artist Series is facilitated by professional teaching artists who lead youth participants through focused art-making sessions designed to develop skills and self-efficacy. Volunteer mentors commit to one series at a time, which can last for 4-6 sessions, and support participants by encouraging their artistic creativity. At the end of each series, participants celebrate their accomplishments and share their talents with peers at a culminating event.
Free Arts Days are one-day, interactive experiences held at our cultural partners like local museums and art venues. During these events, volunteer mentors support youth participants by helping them interact with exhibits and practice self-expression through trauma-informed art projects that align with the event’s theme.
Family Services extend our programming to foster, kindship, adoptive, and reunified families. The intention is to encourage harmony and resilience within the family unit by empowering parents, caregivers, and youth participants in artistic opportunities for self-discovery during their family transitions.
Resilient Roots serves unaccompanied refugee minors in our communities. Youth participants are encouraged to incorporate aspects of their culture into our intentional art activities to help them build resilience from both past traumas and new challenges that come from being in an unfamiliar environment.
The Camp Series brings together youth from social service facilities across Maricopa County for multi-day art programming during seasonal school breaks. Every camp session culminates in a moving performance for the community. Volunteer mentors who serve at camps must be available for 3-10 weekdays during camp sessions.
To learn more about the volunteer enrollment process or discuss placement options:
