History

How It All Began
Originally founded in Malibu, California in 1977 as Free Arts Clinic, Free Arts for Abused Children was born out of the determination of two women who knew well the inherent therapeutic value of the arts. Carolyn Sargent, a woman who, as a child, used art to emerge from the sadness and isolation of hearing loss, and Elda Unger, an aspiring art therapist, saw the need for abused children in foster care to have meaningful engagement with art. By conducting art workshops, Carolyn and Elda gave the gift of creative self-expression to children in need of positive outlets for their experiences.

Growing Programs
When Free Arts opened its doors, we conducted a single program at a residential facility. As Free Arts grew, thousands of children participated in the Free Arts Day Program and soon thereafter the Weekly Volunteer Program. In 1993, the organization began coordinating art activities in the waiting areas of the Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court in Monterey Park, a courthouse dedicated exclusively to child abuse, neglect and abandonment cases. Free Arts' Courthouse  Programs grew in 2000 as we were invited into the Children's Chambers at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange County, and then in 2009 as we expanded to the McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center in Lancaster. Free Arts also introduced the Parents and Children Together with Art (PACT) Program in 1994 to help families in crisis.

Today, Free Arts has four thriving cornerstone programs, each of which relies heavily on the dedication of community volunteers who use art as a bridge to connect with vulnerable children.

Reaching Out Around the Country
Free Arts for Abused Children is the legacy organization for a group of four Free Arts affiliates across the county. There are currently independent Free Arts affiliates in Arizona, Minnesota and New York City as well.
 
Out of respect for our founders, we have chosen to keep the name that reflects their original intention: Free Arts for Abused Children. However, in conversations with volunteers, partner agencies, and other supporters, we often go simply by “Free Arts”, and this is always the intention for interactions with children and families participating in programs.