Now in its 37th year of operation, CREATE Arts Center has provided quality visual arts and art therapy programs that reflect the diversity of its community. Residents from ages five to eighty-five engage in its visual arts workshops, led by professional teaching artists and offered on a sliding scale or for free so that everyone can participate. Licensed art therapists offer hope and healing to individuals and groups in need of mental health support, at incarceration facilities, outpatient clinics, and more. Many community members are still recovering from the pandemic without sufficient resources. CREATE's affordable and approachable programming helps them develop the skills and resilience to cope with their mental health challenges. On-site and across the region, CREATE empowers people through the arts and gives them safe spaces where they can belong.

Headquarters: MD-Montgomery County

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; MD-Montgomery County; MD-Prince George's County; Greater DC Area

Age Groups Served: Pre-K (3-4); Adult (25-49); Seniors (50+)

Population(s) Served: Disabled; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Students

Schools They Work In: Arcola Elementary School; East Silver Spring Elementary School; Rosemary Hills Elementary School; Westbrook Elementary School; Woodlin Elementary School


  • Total # of people served in 2012-2013:   2,243

Awards & Recognition

n/a

Press

  • Announcing the Recipients of the 2013 Executive's Awards
    Tue Oct 8 2013, Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County  
    CREATE's Executive Director, Heena Genti, was featured as the Emerging Leader Award Recipient of the 2013 Executive's Awards.
    connect here

Budget (FY2023)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • The current budget for CREATE Arts Center is: $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

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