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About The Arts Empowerment Project

The Arts Empowerment Project (TAEP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects children impacted by violence and abuse to existing art programs in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our mission is to break the cycles of violence and trauma through arts opportunities that ignite change in vulnerable youth. Our vision is to build a community that gives every child arts experiences that broaden horizons, foster resilience, and build essential life skills. We work with Mecklenburg County’s 26th Judicial District Court and over a dozen community partners to implement several art-based programs that are tailored to providing youth with opportunities to develop social and emotional life skills, experience positive self-expression, mend their spirits, and discover new possibilities. In addition to connecting children to existing programs, we also provide custom classes. We have served over 1,000 students across our four flagship programs - Arts Access, Culinary Boot Camp, Promoting Peace, and Free Arts Fridays. Every year, thousands of children in the Charlotte area are abused and neglected. Often trapped in challenging situations without immediate solutions or access to resources, these children suffer unimaginable trauma. As they age, many turn to harmful behaviors that perpetuate the cycle of violence they have experienced. Yet, there’s hope for these children to mend their spirits through the power of art. Studies show that the arts and positive pro-social activities contribute to greater academic achievement, improved social and emotional life skills, heightened self-esteem, increased civic engagement, and fewer behavioral issues. Abused children who engage with the arts routinely cite their arts involvement as a means of redirecting their lives and counteracting the negative effects of their circumstances. TAEP’s services are proudly supported by individual and corporate funding, and through partnerships with community arts organizations.

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