“Not all health care has to happen in sterile white rooms, sometimes it can be interactive and colorful and fun.”
Creating and expressing is an intrinsic human need and a basic human right. ArtStreet is a means to access artmaking supplies, an artmaking community, and a network of care regardless of the things you’ve experienced in your life, your socioeconomic standing, or your artistic skill level. ArtStreet understands that the title of Artist is not a privileged position and that self-expression and creativity should be available to anybody and everybody. And in that interaction emerged a powerful shift as people realized that their identity was not limited to “homeless” or “client” or “patient” but could be transformed into “artist.” That is the healing that ArtStreet provides.
Walking through the doors, people shed their alternate identities and have the space to dream and create. They interact with others in the community, not as housed or unhoused, but as artists, as equals. And in this community space, we also have the opportunity to build trust and familiarity with AHCH’s health care network and soften the barriers between client and provider.
Why does a health center have an art program?
ArtStreet has blossomed to meet a community need and become a healing hub in ways that no one could have anticipated. While ArtStreet didn’t initially start as a part of AHCH’s array of services, since 1999, it has become an integral and essential part of AHCH’s Patient Centered Medical Home model. ArtStreet integrates seamlessly into AHCH’s care network by offering a creative and alternative entryway to comprehensive health care services by softening the barriers between clients and providers, building trust and familiarity with the complex systems of health care, as well as actively coordinating client care through referrals and consistent check-ins. As one ArtStreet Staff so adeptly put it, “Not all healthcare has to happen in sterile white rooms, sometimes it can be interactive and colorful and fun.”
Do I have to be a client to create art?
Not at all. On Mondays and Tuesdays ArtStreet hosts an Open Studio and everybody is welcome. Access to the arts is a social justice issue. ArtStreet makes access to the arts available to everybody while holding a space to build connection. ArtStreet today is an intentionally facilitated, truly organic and special place where people can connect on a deeper level. It’s a participant community of artists going through various stages in homelessness, and a forum for them to share resources, build resiliency, and create protective networks that will support them even outside of the studio space. ArtStreet also provides a platform for Artists to increase awareness around the issues of homelessness by sharing the art-making process and elevating the voices of unhoused and underhoused artists. “ArtStreet is an example of what happens when you put people in a safe and respected space; over time, you see people begin to want to take leadership and ownership over the space and over their experiences,” says an ArtStreet Staff member “The space is a great equalizer. Everybody has something to teach and something to learn.”
When do you have events?
ArtStreet offers workshops and activities nearly every day of the week for individuals experiencing homelessness and our broader community.
The best way to explore upcoming classes, workshops, art shows, and special events is by checking our community calendar and filtering for “ArtStreet.” Whether you are looking to create, connect, volunteer, or simply experience the incredible talent within our community, there is always something happening at ArtStreet.
Do you sell Artists’ artwork?
Yes! ArtStreet also empowers artists to redefine their identities, beyond “homeless” and “client” but as artists of their own making, with stories worth telling, perspectives worth sharing, and capable of supporting themselves with their art. To that end, ArtStreet has several ArtShows and community selling events where they support the artists in networking, selling their work, and building a name for themselves. As an art broker, ArtStreet takes 0% of the sale, which means that 100% of the profits go back to the artist. In 2024, ArtStreet supported artists in selling over $13,000 worth of artwork.
How can I support ArtStreet?
ArtStreet is 100% philanthropically funded, meaning every workshop, art supply, community event, and creative opportunity is made possible through the support of donors, volunteers, and community members. Financial contributions help sustain free programming, expand access to the arts, and ensure artists experiencing homelessness have the tools and support they need to create. You can make a gift here: Donate
There are many ways to get involved. You can donate art-making supplies, contribute financially, mentor emerging artists, or volunteer to teach a workshop in your creative specialty. You can also support ArtStreet artists by attending community art shows and markets and purchasing artwork directly from local unhoused artists. Most importantly, continue to advocate for and invest in public arts programming — because art creates connection, healing, visibility, and opportunity for our entire community.
ArtStreet’s Open Studio offers a welcoming, creative space where participants can explore art at their own pace in a supportive, low-barrier environment. Open to individuals experiencing homelessness, the studio encourages self-expression, connection, and healing through a variety of art materials and guided or independent projects.
AHCH’s Garden Club offers a hands-on space for patients to connect with nature, grow fresh food, and build community together. Participants learn basic gardening skills, tend seasonal plants, and share in the care of a communal garden that supports wellness, nourishment, and a sense of belonging.
ArtStreet’s Open Studio offers a welcoming, creative space where participants can explore art at their own pace in a supportive, low-barrier environment. Open to individuals experiencing homelessness, the studio encourages self-expression, connection, and healing through a variety of art materials and guided or independent projects.
ArtStreet’s Work Your Words workshop is a supportive, therapeutic space centered on writing and storytelling. Participants engage with guided prompts, personal reflection, and creative exploration to share their experiences in their own voice. The workshop offers a welcoming environment to build confidence, connection, and healing through the power of words and shared stories.
ArtStreet’s Pottery Workshop offers a hands-on creative space where participants can explore clay work in a supportive, low-barrier environment. Through shaping, molding, and finishing their own pieces, participants build artistic skills, reduce stress, and experience the grounding, therapeutic benefits of working with their hands.
The Self-Care Therapy Group provides a supportive space for participants to explore strategies for emotional wellness, stress management, and everyday self-care. Through guided discussion and shared reflection, participants learn practical tools to support their mental health, build resilience, and strengthen a sense of balance and well-being in their daily lives.
Drawing 101 Drawing 101 is a beginner-friendly workshop that introduces participants to the fundamentals of drawing, including line, shape, shading, and perspective. In a supportive and relaxed environment, participants are encouraged to explore their creativity, build confidence, and develop basic artistic skills through guided exercises and personal expression. Painting 101 Painting 101 introduces participants to […]
ArtStreet’s Open Studio offers a welcoming, creative space where participants can explore art at their own pace in a supportive, low-barrier environment. Open to individuals experiencing homelessness, the studio encourages self-expression, connection, and healing through a variety of art materials and guided or independent projects.
AHCH’s Garden Club offers a hands-on space for patients to connect with nature, grow fresh food, and build community together. Participants learn basic gardening skills, tend seasonal plants, and share in the care of a communal garden that supports wellness, nourishment, and a sense of belonging.
ArtStreet’s Open Studio offers a welcoming, creative space where participants can explore art at their own pace in a supportive, low-barrier environment. Open to individuals experiencing homelessness, the studio encourages self-expression, connection, and healing through a variety of art materials and guided or independent projects.
ArtStreet’s Work Your Words workshop is a supportive, therapeutic space centered on writing and storytelling. Participants engage with guided prompts, personal reflection, and creative exploration to share their experiences in their own voice. The workshop offers a welcoming environment to build confidence, connection, and healing through the power of words and shared stories.
ArtStreet’s Pottery Workshop offers a hands-on creative space where participants can explore clay work in a supportive, low-barrier environment. Through shaping, molding, and finishing their own pieces, participants build artistic skills, reduce stress, and experience the grounding, therapeutic benefits of working with their hands.
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