“How important is it? It’s life changing.”
That’s how Anna Russo-Sieber, Founder and Executive Director of ARS Gallery Arts & Culture Center in Benton Harbor, describes the work her organization does through its youth programs.
Russo-Sieber started offering summer youth programs in the early 2000s at The Box Factory in St. Joseph. But, by 2010, she was looking for a new, albeit temporary location to continue her work. She chose an industrial space in the Benton Harbor Arts District. After starting what was supposed to be a two-week rental, Russo-Sieber is still in the same location today at Territorial and 5th streets.
“The goal to come to Benton Harbor was to reach out to the underserved youth in Benton Harbor. Right away we had 28 youth in that first camp that we sponsored. I wasn’t a not-for-profit yet. We just found our ways to raise funds and support the teachers and the art supplies and just everything involved.”
Soon after starting the camps, Russo-Sieber established ARS Arts & Culture Center as a 501 (c)(3) not for profit organization with the purpose of providing a local community art center to promote, develop, and implement cultural, visual fine arts, and arts education to the community with a focus on at-risk youth in Benton Harbor and surrounding communities.
“We have seen well over 1,300 underserved youth alone. They’re never charged, we never even have them put a nickel in. I just don’t believe in it. I believe that they really are underserved, and they cannot afford these opportunities and experiences. Our goal is to teach them life skills. To give them opportunities that they may never have.”
Titles of recent program offerings for young and older participants include Resolution Through Art, Young Teen Mixed Media, Adult Painting Class, College Prep Portfolio, Non-Violence Program, Women Empowering Women 2023, Italian Film Viewing, and a Taste of Germany.
In support of ARS’s programs, Russo-Sieber is hosting a fundraiser on October 14 starting at 5 pm. This annual fundraiser takes place at ARS Gallery located at 147 Fifth Street, Benton Harbor. Admission is $125 per person, tickets can be purchased in advance online, and there will be an opportunity to purchase original art through silent and live auctions. Musician and vocalist Julia James will be performing.
Russo-Sieber appeared as excited about helping area young people as she was about displaying artworks. She said she is a veteran of the Krasl Art Center as a teaching artist for 15 years, good friends with local artists and countless community members, and fortunate to have healthy community support, including generous private donors, foundations, and area companies including Whirlpool Corporation.
“About six years ago, I took a group of about 20 kids to a high school play. It was good but I felt like I didn’t do enough. It wasn’t enough. I took them (to pizza) afterwards, and I felt like I wanted to do more for them. And the principal said to me, ‘You know, the fact that you made them important and did anything, anything at all was life changing for them. So, it’s how you make [the young people] feel important.”
About the work her Culture Center is doing, Russo-Sieber said it’s about making a difference at the right time.
“I would be dramatic to say it’s lifesaving, but you don’t know. I believe it’s lifesaving because it’s between the most critical hours after school, between school and home,” Russo-Sieber said. “Children, even if they’re abused, really find ways to speak through their artwork. You can say more through art than words alone.”
Tickets for the October 14 fundraising event can be purchased online by clicking here.
