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Saturday, April 2, 2011

At this shelter, art studio helps the homeless paint a brighter future

Artists among the homelessSTORY HIGHLIGHTSAn Atlanta homeless shelter has an unusual feature: An art studioDirector felt there are creative people who have fallen on hard timesOutsiders and shelter residents have formed an art community Artists keep part of painting sales, shelter portion goes for suppliesRELATED TOPICSVisual ArtsHomelessness Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- An art studio doesn't usually make anyone's list of what the homeless need.

But when Anita Beaty decided to start painting in the storefront window of a homeless shelter, people were soon looking in and asking to join.

"It seemed to me that there were lots and lots of creative people among folks who were experiencing homelessness," Beaty says.

And she would be familiar with their needs -- Beaty is the executive director of the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless. She'd been looking for a way to combine her love of art with her passion for eliminating poverty.

The art studio sits in the group's headquarters, a 1920s-era building on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. Beaty says the homeless can find a secure place to paint and a creative community environment there.

To get their own free studio space, those interested must show some artistic ability and follow certain rules, including staying drug-free.



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