Are you wondering how the school budget’s going to shake out this year? Curious to know if the kids of Clark County will have access to art, music, dance, or theater? It’s not looking so great, if we’re being honest. But there’s a shining light brightening up some dark corners these days. Enspire Arts, a local nonprofit focused on arts education, is bringing a passionate dedication and deep understanding of the transformative power of creativity to Clark County.
Sarah Lightfoot, Enspire’s founding Executive Director, believes completely that arts education should not be seen “extra," but as something “vital to the educational experience." Because of this, she’s created an organization that fills the gap in our community where schools lack the budget to bring arts to their students. And it’s not just missing the chance to pick up a paint brush or learn an instrument. Sarah has seen firsthand the benefits to mental health that participation in the arts offers. Because Enspire exists in part to bridge the gap between what schools want and what they can afford, Sarah is able to turn small donations into big effect, creating programs that fit each school’s needs and capacity.
Enspire Arts has a motto that guides their work: “embracing creativity, empowering youth, enriching communities." This ethos permeates their three core programs: the Arts Ambassador Scholarship Program, Arts in Residence & Teacher Workshops, and free Community Arts Nights.
Enspire Arts' Arts in Residence programs and Teacher Workshops aim to integrate the arts into elementary school environments. These programs are not simply one-time performances, but rather a series of classes where the students try a mix of all the arts disciplines. The program is designed to provide the kids with a “whole mind and whole body arts experience,” and focuses on emotional wellbeing, self-awareness, and mental health.
The Arts Ambassador Scholarship Program exemplifies Enspire Arts' commitment to youth empowerment. This year-long program provides young artists with $650 to study their chosen discipline and pairs them with a mentor. The program's unique focus on education, mentorship, and youth philanthropy encourages ambassadors to create a project that gives back to our community.
Community arts events are another crucial aspect of Enspire Arts' work, targeting adults who may feel hesitant to engage with the arts. These events are aimed at fostering art appreciation and meaningful connection between participants and art appreciation.
This quote from Chris Colfer “really captures the essence of why we started Enspire Arts,” Sarah says. “‘By inspiring someone, you stimulate that person's creativity. And when someone is gifted with creativity, he or she inherently holds the source of progress and prosperity.’"
Visit them at
- Enspirearts.org
- or in person in Camas, Washington
