The After School Arts Program has many reasons to celebrate at the close of this year.

ASAP's spring 2012 session takes place Thursday afternoons, March 29 - May 10.  Staff orientation date and time wil be announced soon.  Please consider volunteering a little time to help ASAP.  Imagine yourself getting to know a great group of kids while serving as a studio assistant, artist assistant, opening activity table host, snack coordinator, resident photographer, or any number of other roles.  Join us!  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get involved.

ASAP's winter 2012 session takes place Thursday afternoons, January 19 - March 8, with staff orientation on January 12.  Please consider volunteering a little time to help ASAP.  Imagine yourself getting to know a great group of kids while serving as a studio assistant, artist assistant, opening activity table host, snack coordinator, resident photographer, or any number of other roles.  Join us!  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get involved.

ASAP, the After School Arts Program, seeks volunteers for its fall session, to assist in arts classes for 3rd through 5th graders. The program takes place at St. John’s Lutheran Church downtown (600 Sixth Avenue) and meets Thursdays, 3:30 to 5:30 for 7 weeks. Orientation is Thursday, October 13, 4:00–5:30. Total time commitment for the session is 15–17 hours.

Volunteers do NOT need prior arts expertise—only a willingness to work directly with kids. Fall studios include Beat Blast (percussion, bucket drumming, boomwhackers); Ceramics; Culinary Arts (cooking); Drawing Comics; and Poets Unleashed (spoken-word poetry jam).

For more information, contact Michelle Bolton King at 515-770-3380 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  (You can also download our flyer if you'd like to save this information or pass it along to a friend.)

Sunday, July 17th at Ritual Café

downtown on 13th between Grand & Locust

Rob Lumbard


Asphalt & Stained Glass


Brian Joens


Hurley & Dancers


Java Jews


Ritual Cafe

ASAP, the After School Arts Program, is a multi-disciplinary arts enrichment program for 3rd–5th graders in the Mid City area of Des Moines. Since 2007, ASAP has connected more than 700 students with teaching artists in studios ranging from painting, ceramics, and photography to poetry, playwriting, drumming, dance, handbell choir, and much more. ASAP is making a positive difference in Mid City kids’ lives and, by extension, in the community, but we need help to keep the program running.

ASAP costs about $180 per child per 7-week session, including art supplies and equipment, quality instruction, volunteer training, administrative leadership, round-trip transportation, insurance, healthy snacks, and a closing reception. ASAP families are asked to contribute $5 of that amount each session, as a commitment fee. ASAP makes up the rest through grants and donations.

Please join us for a benefit concert Sunday evening, July 17, at Ritual Cafe, featuring local performers and information about ASAP. Bring your checkbook or credit card, and enjoy an evening of local music!

Ritual offers coffee, soft drinks, beer, and wine.

If you cannot join us that evening, please consider a donation.

The ASAP Spring 2011 session ends on Thursday, May 19, with a closing reception.  The event will be held from 5:30 ­ to 6:30 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 600 Sixth Avenue, downtown Des Moines.

ASAP Summer Arts Camp is scheduled for June 27­ - 30, 1:00 ­ - 3:00 p.m., with registration starting at 12:45 each day.  Summer Arts Camp takes place once again in Evelyn K. Davis Park on Forest Avenue, and this year's focus will be creating a giant puppet mascot for the park, which will be unveiled July 8 at the all-day talent show in the park!  Other arts activities, continuing the mascot theme, will be offered in separate studios.  Summer Arts Camp is free to all neighborhood children and is generously sponsored by the Thrivent Builds Neighborhoods coalition, Des Moines Parks and Recreation, and St. John's Lutheran Church.

ASAP's fall 2011 session takes place Thursday afternoons, October 20­ - December 8, with staff orientation on October 13.  Please consider volunteering a little time to help ASAP.  Imagine yourself getting to know a great group of kids while serving as a studio assistant, artist assistant, opening activity table host, snack coordinator, resident photographer, or any number of other roles.  Join us!  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get involved.

ASAP is starting an ongoing pop can collection to help offset program expenses.  Please collect your cans (pop cans only — no glass bottles, please!) and bring them to the ASAP closing event at St. John's Lutheran Church on Thursday, May 19, 5:30­6:30.  We will collect and redeem the cans, and the money will go to ASAP.  Together, we CAN do this! Future collection dates to be announced . . .

The closing reception and dinner for the Fall 2010 session of ASAP takes place Thursday, December 9, 5:30 to 6:30 at St. John's Lutheran Church. ASAP provides a light meal for program participants and their families, as well as donors and guests of the program. Each studio showcases its work with an exhibition or performance. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .