Institute for the Creative Arts in Fort Smith, Arkansas on DonorsChoose

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Watching their confidence grow as they mastered new techniques has been inspiring—each project feels more thoughtful and expressive than the last.\r\n\r\nNext, our students will be creating a watercolor exhibition that celebrates individuality and community pride. This project has not only improved their artistic skills but also encouraged them to see art as a form of storytelling and self-empowerment.\r\n\r\nWe are so grateful for the generosity that made this possible. 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Many of them had never worked on a project that combined art, design, and skate culture before, and seeing those blank decks instantly sparked creative ideas.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the materials to explore themes of self-expression, pop culture, and street art. Students sketched their concepts, learned about color theory and composition, and then brought their ideas to life directly on the decks. The hands-on experience helped them understand how art can exist beyond paper and canvas—it can move, inspire, and connect with their community.\r\n\r\nNext, our students will display their finished decks in a school and community art show, where peers and families can vote on their favorites. This project not only boosted engagement and confidence but also showed our students how their creativity can transform something ordinary into something meaningful and expressive.","fullyFundedDate":1758799491193,"projectUrl":"project/deck-the-halls/9753294/","projectTitle":"Deck the Halls!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rae","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9765915_orig.jpg?crop=567,567,x81,y25&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1728054558716","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9765915"},{"teacherId":9765915,"projectId":9541366,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our computer lab has become a much more engaging and efficient place for learning! The new projectors have transformed the way I can teach digital lessons—students can now clearly see demonstrations, tutorials, and examples projected at full size. 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About this school

Institute for the Creative Arts is a public school in Fort Smith, Arkansas that is part of Fort Smith School District. Its teachers have had 6 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades Not specified

# of students unavailable

# of teachers unavailable

1101 Riverfront Drive

Fort Smith, AR 72901 View local requests

https://www.icafortsmith.org/

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Institute for the Creative Arts to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Institute for the Creative Arts Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. DeWitt

Ms. Moore

Ms. Rae

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Institute for the Creative Arts Demographics

77%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

48%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Institute for the Creative Arts Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 27, 2025

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