Hope Center For The Arts

HOPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, FORMERLY KNOWN AS HOPE UNIVERSITY AND HIHOPES IDENTITY DISCOVERY FOUNDATION, IS THE FIRST ARTS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD SET UP SPECIFICALLY AND ONLY FOR GIFTED ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS.

HOPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS ONE OF THE FIRST ARTS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD SET UP SPECIFICALLY AND ONLY FOR GIFTED ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS, INCLUDING A POINT OF LIGHT AWARD FROM PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH IN 1992, A SPOTLIGHT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE REGIONAL CENTER OF ORANGE COUNTY IN 2001, AND AN L.A. TIMES OC READERS CHOICE AWARD FOR FAVORITE OC NONPROFIT IN 2020. THE ORGANIZATION HAS THE EXPRESSED SUPPORT OF MYRIAD LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOUNDATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, STATE ASSEMBLYMEN AND ASSEMBLYWOMEN, ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISORS, AND LEADERS, AND HAS THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL MENS AND WOMENS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. AS IMPORTANT TO THE ORGANIZATION IS THE SUPPORT RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM THE DISABLED COMMUNITY AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM FINANCIALLY WITH VOLUNTEERS, THROUGH AN EVER-GROWING WAITING LIST, SUPERLATIVE WORD OF MOUTH, AND THROUGH THE CREDIT GIVEN US BY OUR SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI. CENTRAL TO LIFE AT THE ORGANIZATION IS THE VISUAL ARTWORK PRODUCED FOR EXHIBITION AND SALE AND THE PERFORMING GROUP THE HI HOPES WHO HAVE BOTH OVER THE COURSE OF 40 YEARS EXPOSED AND EDUCATED OVER 700,000 INDIVIDUALS ON THE TALENTS AND ABILITIES OF THE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED POPULATION. THE HI HOPES FOR EXAMPLE HAVE TRAVELED THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1972, PLAYING FOR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARIES, BIRTHDAYS, AND MORE. THEY HAVE BEEN THE LEAD PERFORMERS IN MYRIAD LAS VEGAS VENUES, AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY IN TENNESSEE, AND IN THE WHITE HOUSE, FEATURED IN PEOPLE AND TIME MAGAZINES, ON TELEVISION AND TALK SHOWS, AND IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OF THE WEEK. HOPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS HAS PERFORMED FOR OVER 500,000 PEOPLE AND RECEIVED STANDING OVATIONS AT EVERY PERFORMANCE. THEY HAVE RELEASED 21 CELEBRATED ALBUMS AND HAVE INSPIRED THE FORMATION OF SEVERAL SIMILAR GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAMS SERVE THREE GUIDING GOALS: TO PROVIDE 100% OF STUDENTS SERVED A SAFE, CARING, AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WILL BE EDUCATED AND ENRICHED THROUGH THE FINE ARTS AND RELATED ACADEMIC STUDIES. TO PROVIDE 100% OF STUDENTS SERVED THE HELP NEEDED TO BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT THROUGH INCOME GENERATED FROM THEIR ARTS AND THROUGH SELF-CONFIDENCE GAINED FROM HAVING A VEHICLE FOR POSITIVE OUTWARD EXPRESSION AND PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE. TO PROVIDE 100% OF STUDENTS SERVED THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THEIR ARTISTIC WORKS, WITH A WIDE AUDIENCE AND THEREBY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY ABILITIES OF PEOPLE LABELED AS DISABLED. HOPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS OFFERINGS HAVE EXPANDED TO BE DELIVERED BOTH ONSITE AND ONLINE AND TO INCLUDE ALL ART FORMS. TODAY WE SERVE 42 ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, THE HI HOPES CONTINUES TO PERFORM, AND JUST LIKE ANY PROFESSIONAL BAND, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TRAILER WITH THEIR NAME ON IT, AND THEY HAVE RECORDED COUNTLESS ALBUMS. HOPE CENTER OF THE ARTS STUDENTS CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN ART EXHIBITIONS, PERFORM IN THE HAND-BELL CHOIR OR VOCAL CHOIR, PERFORM DANCES AND DRAMAS, AND LEARN TO PLAY INSTRUMENTS, AND MORE. THERE ARE MANY VERY TALENTED ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS HERE AT HOPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, BUT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN OR MOTIVATED BY THE ARTS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE ORGANIZATION HAS DIRECTLY SERVED OVER SIX-HUNDRED ARTISTS, AND THE PERFORMING GROUPS HAVE TOUCHED, INSPIRED, AND EDUCATED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MISSION: THROUGH THE ARTS, WE TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES HOPE ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: VISUAL ARTS: HOPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS OFFERS A DYNAMIC COMBINATION OF STUDIO INSTRUCTION, SOCIALLY ENGAGED PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES, AND FINE CRAFT PRODUCTION FOR OUR IN-HOUSE BOUTIQUE, HOPE HAND CRAFTED. THE VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM SEEKS TO SERVE THE WHOLE PERSON, TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES THROUGH THE ARTS, BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS, CULTIVATING COMMUNITY INTEGRATION AND SOCIAL SKILLS AS WELL AS BUILDING JOB AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS THESE COURSES VARY BY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND INTERESTS AND INCLUDE SUCH COURSES AS: STUDIO ART: OFFERS INSTRUCTION IN DRAWING, PAINTING, PRINTMAKING, SCULPTURE AND MORE AS WELL AS EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES. A PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE OF ARTWORK GOES DIRECTLY TO THE ARTIST. HOPE HAND CRAFTED (FINE CRAFT BOUTIQUE): COVERS KNITTING, WEAVING, HAND-STITCHING, BEADING, MOSAIC AND OTHER FINE CRAFTS PRODUCED FOR SALE AT LOCAL CRAFT FAIRS. EXHIBITIONS: THE ARTWORK PRODUCED BY THE ORGANIZATIONS VISUAL ARTS PROGRAMS IS NOW DISPLAYED IN NUMEROUS LOCAL ART EXHIBITIONS. SHOWS HAVE INCLUDED DISPLAYS OF DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS, AND GREETING CARDS, WHICH ARE NOW SOLD IN LOCAL BOUTIQUES AS WELL AS DURING ORGANIZATION EXHIBITIONS. PERFORMING ARTS: A TIME-HONORED VEHICLE FOR DEVELOPING SELF-ESTEEM, SOCIAL INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS, CRITICAL THINKING AND, PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, CREATIVITY, SELF-DISCOVERY AND SELF-EXPRESSION. THESE COURSES VARY BY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND INTERESTS AND INCLUDE SUCH COURSES AS: HI HOPES RENOWNED PROFESSIONAL BAND HAS PERFORMED IN CONCERTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, APPEARED ON NUMEROUS TELEVISION PROGRAMS, RECORDED NUMEROUS ALBUMS AND BEEN FEATURED IN MANY LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESS EVENTS. RING & SING A PERFORMING ENSEMBLE COMBINING OUR VOCAL AND HAND BELL CHOIRS AVAILABLE FOR OUTREACH PERFORMANCES FOR SENIOR CENTERS, SCHOOLS, AND CORPORATE EVENTS. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OFFERS INSTRUCTION IN VARIOUS INSTRUMENTAL AREAS RANGING FROM CLASSICAL TO CONTEMPORARY STYLES. DANCE AND DRAMA CLASSES INCLUDE DEVELOPING BASIC SKILLS, STAGE PRESENCE AND OTHER VITAL COMPONENTS AS WELL AS PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. VIDEOGRAPHY GIVES THE STUDENTS AN EXPRESSION WITH FILMS AND A WIDELY USEFUL SKILL IN TODAYS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. LIFE ENRICHMENT: CLASSES ENCOURAGE CLIENTS TO DEVELOP INDEPENDENCE AND EVERYDAY LIVING SKILLS THROUGH OUR ACADEMIC/LIFE ENRICHMENT CLASSES. THESE COURSES VARY BY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND INTERESTS AND INCLUDE SUCH COURSES AS: ACADEMICS MONEY MATTERS CULINARY STUDIES COMPUTER VOCATIONAL SERVICES WORK-STUDIES CREATIVE THERAPY SERVICES: THERAPY SERVICES AT HOPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS ARE PROVIDED BY ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE COMPLETED AN APPROVED THERAPY PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS OUR ARTISTS BY PROVIDING A THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP FOR GROWTH. USING A HOLISTIC APPROACH, WE WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH DEPARTMENT AT HOPE. THESE COURSES VARY BY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND INTERESTS AND INCLUDE SUCH COURSES AS: MUSIC DANCE MOVEMENT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIES PHYSICAL THERAPIES VOCATIONAL SERVICES: HOPE PROVIDES UNIQUE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS, BY TRAINING OUR ARTISTS TO EARN INCOME THROUGH THEIR PERFORMANCES AND BY PROMOTING THE SALE OF THEIR ARTWORK, ETC. FOR EXAMPLE; WHEN ARTWORK BY A HOPE PARTICIPANT IS SOLD, 50% OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO THE PARTICIPANT, THE OTHER 50% IS USED TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.