Art with a Heart, Inc. Presents Its 25th Anniversary Celebration

Founded in 2000, Baltimore-based Art with a Heart, Inc. has provided equitable access to visual art experiences while enhancing the lives of people of nearly all ages through visual art. Randi Pupkin, the executive director, started the nonprofit organization while she was still practicing law.

“She started teaching four classes a week in two group homes, an Alzheimer’s facility, The House of Ruth Maryland and a senior center,” said Megan Gatto, Deputy Director of Art with a Heart. “Now, Art with a Heart provides as many as 16,000 classes a year.”

Most of Art with a Heart’s work is done in Baltimore City, although work also occurs in the surrounding counties.

“We have 20 employees; 18 are full-time. We work with as many as 4,000 volunteers a year, so that includes volunteers who come in individually, three times a week, like it’s their job,” said Gatto.

Volunteers mostly help in the office with material preparation and work on large scale community art projects.

“Typically, if we are asking someone to be in a classroom and facilitate, we are going to compensate them for their time,” Gatto said.

Gatto explained that Art with a Heart also works with large service groups, college interns, and between 100 and 150 contracted teachers and assistants who help facilitate classes.

Art with a Heart’s outreach is wide and diverse. Art classes are held for students ages two to 102 in everything from early childhood learning centers and after school programs to senior centers, community centers, treatment facilities, homeless shelters, veterans and Alzheimer’s facilities.

“We are also in 17 Baltimore City Schools as a supplemental art teacher,” Gatto added.

Classes are free for participants. Art with a Heart’s partners pay a subsidized rate to contribute to the cost of running customized classes that could include painting, drawing, making ceramics, sculpture, or mosaics.

Candace Allmond, Senior Director of Workforce Development and Community Engagement, oversees the nonprofit’s HeARTwares and HeARTworks branches.

“The HeARTworks Program is the workforce development program that works with youth ages 14 to 24. We are the satellite site that’s on 36th street in Hampden. So, we have HeARTwares downstairs, which is the store where the art products that our students create are being sold,” Allmond explained.

She loves having the opportunity to mentor and instill the premise in young people that they can do anything. They are taught useful skills that they can carry with them throughout their development.

 The public can shop at HeARTwares, located at 1104 W. 36th Street in Baltimore for handmade treasures. Students receive a portion of the sales.

“We’re an organization that’s sowing seeds, watering seeds, helping the plants grow for our next workers—the next people who are going to lead. I feel like, yes we’re giving them something to do, but it’s things to do that they will carry with them the rest of their lives. Specifically, workforce development,” Allmond stated.

She added, “If I learn how to make a good resume, if I learn how to do a good interview, if I learn how to be confident, even after this, I’ll be able to take this into my next job, my next career as I grow as a young adult.”

Art with a Heart is turning 25 years old. Art lovers, community members and the public can join forces to help make the organization’s tomorrow a brighter reality.

The nonprofit will present its 25th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, March, 29, 2025 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the M&T Bank Exchange at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, home of the Hippodrome Theatre – 401 W. Fayette Street in Baltimore, Maryland.

“There’s going to be live music, dancing, dinner, and drinks. There’s going to be a silent auction of one-of-a-kind masks that have been decorated by local Baltimore artists. And really it’s a part of a fundraising campaign for our 25th year to support three areas: our overall programs, the opening of the Avenue location, which is where our workforce development program is, HeARTwares on the Avenue, and then in honor of our executive director and founder retiring this year,” Gatto said.

Immersive art stations will also be available for attendees to enjoy while helping to raise money for a worthy cause.

“We haven’t had an event in 10 years, so we’re really pouring a lot into this celebration, and we hope that Baltimore will come and celebrate with us!” Gatto said.

The deadline to purchase tickets online at www.artwithaheart.net is Wednesday, March 26, 2025.