Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

A16 LOCAL
Friday 24 January 2020

Arte Sano Foundation:

Creative Expression for A change of Life

ORANJESTAD — Arte Sano Foundation believes in social transformation, creating beauty
and changing lives. Founder Claudia Nooren Ruiz-Vasquez works with students from the
local correction institute K.I.A. and students with drug and/or alcohol addictions on a
vocational training base. “We strive to bring back dignity by creating art.”

Arte Sano Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2012. The name, freely
translated, means ‘art is healthy’ and that is the main focus: the powerful healing po-
tential of useful work and creative self-expression of the arts. The empowerment of vul-
nerable people in Aruba’s community. Homeless, addicts, youth in prison, youth drop
outs and guardianship are the target groups.

The products vary and include paintings, lithography’s, recycled wood items, recycled
material, textile bags, driftwood, jewelry and t-shirts, all items that are a good memory
to Aruba and with the awareness that they are created by vulnerable locals. The goal
is to promote economic development through job creation and vocational training.
Claudia: “Many people have someone they know or love that struggles in life with ad-
diction challenges or wrong choices. We aim to break stigmas and give second chang-
es. Everybody deserves that. Aruba has a colorful mix of people that are extremely
creative.”
The foundation’s studio/workshop place is inspired on the Bauhaus movement in Europe
and the Arts & Crafts Movement in the US. “Our curriculum is based on the natural and
cultural heritage of Aruba. The students create unique souvenirs, each with a detailed
explanation of their story behind it.”
For more information please visit Facebook Arte Sano Foundation.q