Courthouse Programs, Waiting Room Arts & Crafts

Free Arts’ Courthouse Programs encourage children to escape the anxiety of their court hearings through arts and crafts projects at three courthouses throughout LA and Orange counties.

Our relationship with each courthouse is different:
  • Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court (Monterey Park, CA): Free Arts trains volunteers and provides art supplies five days a week. This original program site is the hallmark of the Courthouse Programs.
  • McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center (Lancaster, CA): Free Arts trains volunteers and provides art supplies several days each week.

We offer a wide range of activities designed to engage children for minutes or hours with enthusiastic volunteers. Kids have the opportunity to experience relief from the overwhelming nature of their circumstances while creating dynamic projects.

 

An average of 100 children participate in volunteer-led arts and crafts activities each day. At the Edelman Children’s Court, both morning (10am-noon) and afternoon (1-3pm) art sessions are offered Monday-Thursday, and a morning session is offered on Fridays.

 

Because some children’s cases will be called soon after they arrive at the Free Arts tables, while others will have to wait for hours before entering the courtroom, activities are open-ended and kids are welcome to join and leave at different times.