The After School Arts Program | Des Moines, Iowa

The arts allow opportunity for kids to practice asserting themselves and making room for others.

It's the weekend! We hope you make, watch, or listen to something that inspires you!

The arts teach children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships.

“What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit.” -John Updike

Arts activities are centering and can strengthen kids' concentration and improve their attention span.

You know that feeling when your project turns out juuust right? Make YOUR perfect pot at ASAP's drop-in air dry clay class at the South Side Library from 4-5!

Oversized action paintings are the perfect summer arts camp activity! Here's a fun memory of four campers using gravity to create a Pollock inspired collaborative piece.

FREE Air Dry Clay class at the South Side Library today from 4-5! No registration required.

Can you spot the two 5-pointed stars in Lena Maye's tape and tempera paint masterpiece?

"Because of ASAP Drama Club, I feel more comfortable putting myself out there."

Each time a child has a positive experience with the arts in a group setting, their sense of belonging to a community grows stronger.

Collaborative art projects encourage kids to practice important life skills such as sharing, negotiating, and taking turns.

Shout out to the ones who make "Fearless Fridays" so fearless! We admire and appreciate our Teaching Artists to no end.

Check out our latest e-newsletter to see what we have going on this summer! mailchi.mp/98a7ee6c61d2...

Last week, ASAP staff led Starfish Academy students on tours of the Sculpture Park! The rising 1st-5th graders completed a scavenger hunt, asked questions, and had fun mimicking the larger-than-life works of art!

ASAP Teaching Artist A.San leads these rising second graders in breakdancing across their cafeteria floor during "Starfish Academy" summer school. Learning loss prevention that engages the whole brain and body results in deeper learning and is simply more FUN!

Since 2007, ASAP has been bringing to life — through the arts — the dignity and wonder of imagination within every child.

"The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere. Far from where he lives, or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep." -Paul Strand

We're head over heels for this image capturing the strength, balance, bravery, and creativity of ASAP breakdancing students! ASAP Teaching Artists such as breaker Anthony San bring expertise and passion to unique arts opportunities for our students.

ASAP ofrece clases gratuitas de arte después de la escuela. ¡¡Provee clases gratuitas para niños en las diferentes bibliotecas de Des Moines!!

ASAP sculpture students were challenged to create an animal using a single piece of wire. Can you tell what animal this is?

Plato said, "I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning."

ASAP Teaching Artist Paola helps a student begin a bracelet at Forest Avenue Library.

Happy Valentine's Day from ASAP!

Needing some positivity on this freezing cold Thursday?! Borrow a mantra from ASAP's Words of Affirmation painting studio!

Heart piñatas for Valentine's Day!

How many of you know how to sew? Right now, ASAP is working with three elementary age groups on the basics, starting with threading a plastic needle with yarn and using the grid of burlap to guide their stitches. Look how proud they are of their custom wall hangings.

Looking for a fun volunteer opportunity?! We need YOU at the Science Center's Snow Ball on Saturday, Feb 1! We'll have an art station going from 6:30-8:30 PM. Contact hannah@asap-dsm.org if you'd like to help! This will be about 4 hours of volunteering, and you don't have to be an artistic person!