Hilltop Artists in Residence – Tacoma (Hilltop ART) provides hot glass instruction, related arts training, academics, and mentoring to middle school and high school students. Our mission is to use glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures.

Description:
We provide a positive option to vulnerable youth—those who have not been successful in traditional school, are involved in high risk or illegal activities, and have no safe place to go and nothing to do after school. We serve students during the day, after school, in the evening, and during the summer. Hilltop ART also provides an engaging and motivational entry point through which alienated youth can reconnect with school through our Alternative Academics program. We believe that using glass art instruction to engage youth in a positive environment strengthens the education of our at-risk and under-served youth, and contributes to the development of a vibrant arts community in Tacoma.

History:
Hilltop ART originated in the summer of 1994 as an attempt to engage Tacoma youth in creative activities that built on students' strengths and provided positive public recognition. With support from the City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Schools 90 students were served that first summer. Students created sculptures, silk-screens, and fused glass art. In the fall, a glory hole was added so students could blow glass. Drawn in by the excitement and danger of 2000� glass, students, ages 12-20, chose the heat of the glory hole and the risk of glassblowing over the risks of the streets. The program gained a reputation for neutrality and success with hard-to-serve youth. The Tacoma school superintendent endorsed the program and by 1996 Tacoma Public Schools and Hilltop ART became partners in providing glass arts options for high-risk youth. Additional funding was needed to support the program during the school year, after school, and in the evenings. In order to be more competitive for grants, Hilltop ART applied for and received non-profit status.

Contact person: Rachel Morton, Administrative Manager, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (253) 571-7697

Address:

P.O. Box 6829 Tacoma, WA 98406 This location is handicap accessible

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

To Jason Lee Middle School Hot Shop: I-5 North or South take Bremerton/Highway 16 exit #132, and take the immediate exit on your right to Sprague Street. Follow Sprague to 6th Avenue and cross 6th Avenue. Jason Lee. . . (more)

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	No
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	No
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	No