Art Kits

Corita Art Center (CAC) launched Corita 101 Art Kits during the COVID-19 pandemic, Corita 101 Art Kits paired accessible art materials with thoughtfully designed curriculum distributed through trusted community partners. What began as an emergency response initiative revealed that creative participation can support regulation, connection, and healing during moments of crisis.  

Since 2020, CAC has partnered with more than 80 schools, libraries, shelters, mutual aid groups, and nonprofit organizations to serve children, older adults, unhoused communities, and families navigating trauma, isolation, and disruption.

During the 2025 Los Angeles fires, CAC distributed more than 1,000 art kits within days across shelters, hotels, and community sites.

CAC also saw a 38% increase in engagement with online educational resources in impacted zip codes, while 100% of responding partners requested additional kits.   These experiences positioned CAC as cultural first responders.   Research from the World Health Organization and the National Endowment for the Arts shows that creative participation supports mental well-being, emotional regulation, and social connection.

At the center of this work is the legacy of artist and educator Corita Kent, whose practice demonstrated that creativity can be a tool for advocacy, hope, and social change. CAC operates one of the few free public spaces in the United States dedicated to a singular female artist while advancing access to arts education and women’s history.  

Art kits are distributed through our nonprofit service partners, and our team also set aside a number of kits to be handed out to families during daily activities in public spaces like laundromats and public parks.

We couldn’t do this without our staff and our incredible volunteers; and to our partner organizations who are instrumental in making sure that they reach those who needed them the most.

Support the expansion of Corita 101 Art Kits!