Artistic Journeys provides programs for the arts education of students Grades K through college in a variety of music and visual arts programs. Artistic Journeys was founded in 1991 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization initially to provide after-school visual arts instruction. Programs were soon expanded to include summer camps and contract services to elementary schools without art instruction. Artistic Journeys currently offers instruction in drawing, painting, sculpture, and pottery weekly through the school year and several summer camps.

The Artistic Journeys Youth Orchestra (later renamed the Linnea Chamber Orchestra) began in 1997 as an intermediate level orchestra at the request of parents. The Linnea Chamber Orchestra currently rehearses at the Homestead Museum in the City of Industry. In 1999, advanced members of the orchestra formed the Linnea Woodwind Quintet, Brass Quintet, and String Quartet (2001) because of their desire to play chamber music with their friends. Our young musicians perform regularly at The Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, and other concert and community service venues.

In early 2004, Artistic Journeys joined with The Applegate Project, which is dedicated to providing musical instruments for underprivileged children.

As we constantly seek to find challenging and exciting ways for youth and adults to participate in meaningful and creative expressions, our programs have continued to grow in number and scope. The following highlights our various programs:

Artistic Journeys Summer Art Camps

Every summer since 1991

The first Artistic Journeys exhibit of student artwork was presented at the Hacienda Heights Public Library, sponsored by the Friends of the Hacienda Heights Library. We are grateful for the foresight and love for the arts shown by Mr. Charles Kaufman, Library Manager that first year. His energy and dedication to our community was shown in the development of an ongoing community home for our children to exhibit artwork. The camps and exhibits have been an enjoyable summer activity for hundreds of students throughout the area since then. Through the years, the program has been supported by the generous contributions of numerous art lovers, local businesses, and corporations, allowing for camp sponsorships and scholarships.

Artistic Journeys Art Enrichment Programs
After school and during the school day
Over 8,000 students served in public and private schools since 1994

Teachers from our programs have been invited to schools in the Rowland Unified School District and the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, St. Mark's School, Shepherd of the Valley Preschool, and Holy Trinity Preschool to present a variety of short-term programs focusing on art-across-the-curriculum and multi-cultural art. End-of-program art exhibits of student work at many of these school sites has been an integral part of the programs.

Artistic Journeys Youth Orchestra
Since 1997

The Youth Orchestra (later renamed the Linnea Chamber Orchestra) was formed as a result of local desire for such a performing group. Implemented to provide musical training and performance experiences for young musicians, the program has flourished with the dedicated ongoing help of numerous community volunteers. The orchestra has been guided into ever more challenging and exciting performance opportunities due to the musical leadership of our first conductor, Douglas Acker. Mr. Acker came to the orchestra with advanced degrees in music education, and personal performance experiences, which uniquely prepared him for the difficult founding years of the orchestra. The orchestra has enjoyed performances at the Hillcrest Festival of the Arts, Medieval Times,Disney California Adventures, Knott's Berry Farm, Tarfest in the Mid-Wilshire District, the Baldwin Park Performing Arts Center, the Celebration of Youth in Hacienda Heights, the Steinmetz Park Senior Center, Concerts in the Park, Newton Middle School, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Homestead Museum in City of Industry.

Artistic Journeys Chamber Ensembles
Since 1999

With a goal of challenging students and providing for enjoyable music-making times, this program has become an indispensable part of our activities each year. Our new addition, the early music consort, has proved to be a popular group.

Artistic Journeys Board of Directors