Art Boxes
Overview
The Texas Cultural Trust’s Art Box project provides creative resources for children in Title I elementary schools to engage in creativity at home. Title I schools serve high concentrations of students from low-income homes– campuses are designated as Title I with more than 40% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Art Boxes provide basic art supplies and instructions to spark the curiosity, creativity, and imagination of children and their families.
To participate in the Art Box project, you can donate an Art Box at the link below. Art Boxes are also available for individual purchase at the link below. When purchased for individual use, 100% of net proceeds support the work of the Texas Cultural Trust in providing Arts Access to underserved communities. If you would like to inquire about funding a Title I elementary school, please reach out to info@txculturaltrust.org. All Art Box communication materials are available in English and Spanish.
Why Art Boxes?
The Texas Cultural Trust’s research has illustrated the lack of equity in quality arts education access between school districts, campuses, and among various demographics. In Texas, rural schools offer 70% fewer arts courses than suburban schools, and teachers in high-poverty schools serve 32% more students than teachers at low-poverty schools. This means arts classrooms are overcrowded in high-poverty schools and in rural schools there are fewer arts opportunities.
The Trust’s research proves the arts support mental health and social and emotional learning while also increasing academic success and cultivating lifelong skills including collaboration, communication, critical thinking, innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. Additionally, In Texas, students who complete more arts courses are twice as likely to graduate high school, earn 15% higher pass rates on standardized tests, have higher attendance rates, and are 22% more likely to attend college.
Reinforced by these findings and the fact that many students in marginalized communities do not own or have these types of art supplies at home, the Trust launched the Art Box project within its Arts Access program to provide students in Title I communities basic art resources to encourage creativity, help them express their feelings, reflect on current events, and engage with others at home.
Campuses Served
The Art Box project has served the following Texas schools:
Del Valle Elementary, Del Valle ISD- 2020
Highland Heights Elementary, Houston ISD- 2021
Atherton Elementary, Houston ISD- 2021
Hopkins Elementary, Victoria ISD- 2021
East Texas Advance Academy, Longview ISD- 2021
Robb Elementary, Keystone CSD- 2022
East Texas Advance Academy, Longview ISD- 2024
Hunt Elementary, Hunt ISD- 2025
Art Boxes in Action
The Trust understands the importance of art and individual expression for healing. Art Boxes have served two communities with particular need during times of rebuilding.
The Trust team traveled to Uvalde, Texas to distribute Art Boxes to the students and faculty of Robb Elementary at Operation Get Out‘s “Bikes for Uvalde” event in September 2022. Many thanks to HEB for sponsoring this effort!
In December 2025, the Trust team distributed Art Boxes to the students of Hunt Elementary, a school and community that were greatly affected by flooding. Thank you to the Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students for making this a reality.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve these families and provide creative resources for emotional comfort and self-expression.