The 2010 Gardner-Betts Art Show and Silent Auction was held on
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in the Lobby of the San Jacinto Center at 98 San Jacinto Blvd.
Through RECA's
partnership in Project Bridge, the Gardner-Betts Juvenile
Justice Center has expanded its operations from a summer
only program to a year-round art enrichment program for boys
and girls between the ages of 14 and 17 who have violated
the law and are on probation.
Project Bridge
is an enrichment component of the Travis County Juvenile
Probation Department's Leadership Academy. The Leadership Academy is a sentencing alternative
to the Texas Youth Commission. The art/music enrichment
classes are offered to these juvenile offenders on the
premise that art is a constructive outlet for emotional
conflict, a positive strategy for anger management, and a
means to foster self-awareness. Project Bridge is entirely
funded by the Real Estate Council of Austin.
More than $41,000
was raised at this year's art auction. The
auction featured original art by the juvenile offenders.
Proceeds from event sponsorships and the silent art auction
are used to purchase materials and pay professional art and
music instructors, who instruct juveniles at all levels of
the Leadership Academy.hi