About Us
MISSION
MISSION
MISSION
We enrich lives by sharing diverse artistic experiences in communities with limited access to the arts.
VISION
MISSION
MISSION
We strive to create vibrant environments where participants connect through and are empowered by art for an improved quality of life.
VALUES
MISSION
VALUES
We believe in the transformative power of the arts and we approach our work with an equal focus on quality, inclusion, access, partnerships, and community.
THE NEED FOR ART
Art on Wheels believes in art for all.
Why is this IMPORTANT?
Art on Wheels makes a significant impact in our communities by providing an empowering, creative learning environment in which participant artists learn constructive ways to cope with the variety of challenges they may be facing, both big and small. Our programs enhance participant’s lives by providing fun and challenging arts opportunities, with end results that offer deeper insight into individual lives and greater, more nuanced advocacy for the communities we serve.
We strive to improve our students quality of life by building confidence and fostering friendship in individuals who suffer disproportionately from chronic loneliness and depression.
What are 5 ways my WHOLE community benefits?
- Art on Wheels improves health and wellness in elderly, disabled, and chronically ill communities by giving them an outlet to battle physical and emotional challenges with art.
- Creating art has health benefits. Improving health in at-risk communities reduces the need for long-term care. Reducing risk factors of long-term care saves communities money.
- Art on Wheels brings visual art and music therapy to 20+ locations in Central Virginia. Our traveling outreach allows us to affect typically isolated, rural or under-served populations.
- We approach wellness holistically. Many students receive meals, transportation, exercise and other activities through our agency partnerships. Some locations are assisted living facilities which provide an entire spectrum of advanced care.
- Community Art projects engage a broader audience in art creation! Through interactive events, Art on Wheels’ community projects beautify our schools, parks, and neighborhoods.
OUR HISTORY
Sometimes, great things come from modest beginnings. In this case, our co-founders Kevin and Andrea Orlosky had an idea, a dining room, and a bookshelf crammed with art supplies.
The idea was this: that making art- creating something from nothing, something that is uniquely yours, is powerful, and healing, and not enough people get the chance to do that. That the experience of expressing yourself, of learning new things and being empowered by abilities you might have never even known you had is important. That the many therapeutic benefits of the arts aren’t often available to the people who need them the most. So they set out to change that and Art on Wheels was created.
Art on Wheels identified four focus areas: Aging in the Arts, Arts and Disability, Healing in the Arts and Arts in the Community, and developed a visual arts curriculum that offers interesting techniques and projects that are challenging, and adaptive for our specialized populations. We are comprehensive in our approach and grew to bring in music therapists and performance artists to add to the visual art offerings.
For over 10 years we have partnered with facilities and communities to spark transformational change and growth through arts programming. A mainstay of our approach is meeting people where they are, and all of our classes and workshops come to you.
Art on Wheels quickly outgrew that dining room, and each year we continue to grow. Because the idea that life can be better, happier, and healthier with art is true. We uncovered a fundamental need in our community, and we continue to strive to meet it.