Art.com Announces Finalists for National 'Art Sparks Learning' Program Celebrating Art Education

EMERYVILLE, Calif., April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Art.com, the world's leading online destination dedicated to experiencing and buying art, today announced three finalist schools in the U.S. for its spring Art Sparks Learning ^TM campaign. The international program supports art education to help spark creativity in the classroom and inspire the artists of tomorrow. Each finalist school—selected from nominations submitted nationwide—was awarded 18 pieces of their favorite framed art prints from Art.com. Now through May 8, 2015, Art.com is inviting family, friends and community members to visit www.art.com/artsparks and vote for their favorite school to win an additional $1,000 gift certificate from Blick Art Materials.

"All of us at Art.com believe in the power of art education, and the positive impact it has on students' learning abilities," said Geoffroy Martin, CEO of Art.com. "Art Sparks Learning lets us influence the next generation by exposing them to art they may have never had a chance to experience without the program, and we're happy to bring that joy to the students' lives."

Art.com's Art Sparks Learning program began in Nov. 2012, and has offered students all over the world a chance to be inspired by art, with participation from schools in the U.S., U.K and France. The three newest U.S. finalists are:

• Global Community Charter School; New York, New York: Located in Central Harlem, this school provides an education that teaches students and families to work successfully together across differences in language, culture, economic background, age, and nationality. Their new artwork from Art.com will be displayed throughout the school to inspire creativity on a daily basis.
• San Diego Global Vision Academy; San Diego, California: The school's mission is to develop civic-minded leaders, accomplished writers, and resilient life-long learners. Through Art.com's donations, underprivileged students are given the opportunity to experience the arts and open their minds to new cultures.
• Austin Elementary School; Conroe, Texas: The Art Department at Austin Elementary School strives to reach children struggling in core subjects though art. The prints from Art.com will stimulate creativity and imagination, empowering students to excel in all areas of their curriculum.

"Blick has been a long-time advocate for art education," said Robert Buschsbaum, CEO of Blick Art Materials. "We're delighted to support schools that share the same commitment to the arts as we do, and hope we can enrich the winning school's learning and teaching experience."

From now until May, 8, 2015, help support the artists of tomorrow by visiting www.art.com/artsparks and voting for your favorite school. The winning school will be announced on Tuesday, May 12, 2015. For ongoing updates on the Art Sparks Learning campaign, follow #ArtSparks on Twitter.

About Art.com
Art.com is the world's leading online destination for experiencing and buying high-quality wall art. Offering the largest selection of handpicked art images, as well as custom framing, specialty printing, and interactive visualization tools, Art.com helps everyone explore, experiment with and express themselves through artwork—and have fun doing it. At Art.com, customers can also shop curated collections from tastemakers and trendsetters. Art.com is forever leading the way art is experienced and consumed—through service, technology and craftsmanship—to help people find art they love so they can love their spaces more. A division of Art.com Inc., Art.com is based in Emeryville, Calif.

About Blick Art Materials
Founded in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1911, Blick Art Materials is the largest provider of art supplies in the United States, with 72 retail stores nationwide. The company's extensive selection, competitive prices, and superior customer service make Blick the best choice for art educators, students, artists, architects, designers, hobbyists, or anyone requiring quality art materials for work or pleasure. A long-time advocate of art education in the U.S., Blick also provides support of scholastic, collegiate, and professional art shows, both financially and through a variety of materials that emphasize the benefits of art education. Blick also supports the communities in which it does business by sponsoring in-store events, local schools, art leagues, and community groups across the country. For more information about Blick Art Materials, visit www.dickblick.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150413/198250LOGO

SOURCE Art.com

Related Links

http://www.art.com