The Help Group is proud to present its sixth annual Festival of Arts: A Celebration of Young Artists, an art show featuring the designs of young people with autism. Sponsored by the New York-based nonprofit Bear Givers, this year’s show will feature a wonderful collection of paintings, photographs and robotics by students of The Help Group’s Village Glen and Bridgeport Schools. All proceeds from artwork purchased during the exhibit benefit Village Glen and Bridgeport Schools’ art programs.

The exhibit will take place on Sunday afternoon May 31^st from 2 to 4 pm at Santa Monica Art Studios – Arena 1.  Arena 1 is located in an historic hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, providing a unique gallery setting for Help Group students to display their creative offerings.

Bear Givers Chairman and Founder Joseph Sprung explains, “Through our EmpowerArt program, young artists are able to experience the joy and pride of creating art and seeing it showcased and sold at a special exhibit. To see their faces light up when they walk into a real art gallery and spot their creation for the first time is so inspiring.”

The afternoon’s festivities include a special reception in honor of the young artists, and family and friends are warmly invited to attend. The Help Group Children’s Choir and Village Glen Recorder Ensemble will add to the magic of the day with their musical performances.

Special guest Malissa Feruzzi Shriver, longtime advocate for arts education in schools and former chair of the California Arts Council, will join this year’s event as well. Among her many commitments on the local and national level, Malissa is currently the political advocacy advisor for Frank Gehry and works with him on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities on its Turnaround Arts initiative in California.

“Our thanks to Bear Givers for their generous sponsorship of this art show for six years and to Malissa Feruzzi Shriver for her dedication to nurturing a love of the arts in all children,” remarked Dr. Barbara Firestone, Help Group President & CEO. “We’re looking forward to a wonderful afternoon celebrating the talent and creativity of our students.”

To RSVP to the reception, please contact The Help Group at events@thehelpgroup.org or 818.779.5212.