.png)
ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
We cultivate community at the intersection of public health and art to inspire intentional and creative living.
OUR VISION
A healthy Saint Louis community by supporting creative experiences with:
for a healthy community
for a healthy mind
for a healthy body
WHAT WE DO
Our programs for the Saint Louis CommUNITY
_edited.jpg)
Our Team
JOIN OUR TEAM
Interested in joining our team to help our mission for arts access for all?
Board of Directors
.jpg)
Our Impact
arts access for a creative Saint Louis
Measuring and evaluating the social impact of CommUNITY Arts STL is at the heart of how we grow and serve. We work intentionally to gather data that reflects the real changes our programs create—informing our approach, guiding the best outcomes for our families, and ensuring we stay true to our mission. Through both qualitative stories and quantitative data, we track who we reach, the programs they engage with, and the creative milestones they achieve.
Every data point, every story, and every smile helps us understand—and expand—the ripple effect of creativity in our community.
driving change in the Saint Louis community by:
facilitate and sponsor art education experiences for underserved communities
build strategic partnerships with key local organizations to increase impact
Produce annual arts experiences to catalyze a ripple effect community awareness and action
provide performances opportunities fair wages to local artists
Vet and train community members to recognize and provide resources to those who need it the most
commissions artistic collaborations with local arts companies
"100% reported of CAB kids increased confidence in sharing ideas while in the program"
- Community Arts Bus data, 2024-25
Inspiration:
CommUNITY Arts Festival (CAF) was created in reaction the ongoing epidemic of violence plaguing Saint Louis. After the shooting of Rain Stippec n 2027, CAF aimed to harness the power of the arts community to heal, educate, and empower those affected by community violence.
OUR STORY
A TALE OF TWO NON PROFITS
Our organization is an amalgamation of two local non profits join together to activate the arts community to build a more intentional and empathetic Saint Louis. Through performances, in-school and after school arts education we bring social- emotional concepts to our community to cause a ripple affect of kindness to all in Saint Louis.
Inspiration:
CommUNITY Arts Festival (CAF) was created in reaction the ongoing epidemic of violence plaguing Saint Louis. After the shooting of Rain Stippec n 2027, CAF aimed to harness the power of the arts community to heal, educate, and empower those affected by community violence.
10 local professional dancers looking for a creative outlet joined together to build choreographic works that inspired others under the name Collective Motion
JANUARY 2006
Collective Motion
Collective Motion evolved to include Social-Emotional Learning arts curriculum for local schools that brought stories to life through Pages to Pirouettes.
MARCH 2009
Collective Motion
February 6, 2017 a local dancer, Rain Stippec was ambushed by two gunman, shooting her 8 times in the back. Sparking the gathering of local artists support her recovery
FEBRUARY 2017
CommUNITY Arts Festival
Collective Motion expanded Pages to Pirouettes and established Literacy & Arts programming in the bi-state area
JUNE 2017
Collective Motion
To help raise money to offset Rain Stippec's medical costs, the first annual CommUNITY Arts Festival hosted two weekends of performances, arts workshops, and violence prevention education in Grand Center. Performances featured Saint Louis Dance Theater (formerly The Big Muddy Dance Company), Ashleyliane Dance Company, St. Louis Symphony players, Lindenwood University, SIUE, and many more.
September 2017
CommUNITY Arts Festival
February 2018
CommUNITY Arts Festival
CommUNITY Arts Festival officially becomes a 501(c) 3 organization.
August 2018
CommUNITY Arts Festival
Launched pilot program serving first responders, law enforcement, and hospital professionals who work with our affects of community violence through Arts Anonymous.
.jpg)
September 2019
CommUNITY Arts Festival
Launched the CommUNITY Arts Bus Program (CAB) connecting youth impacted by violence to existing local arts programs and with safe reliable transportation.
Pages to Pirouettes become DanceArts incorporating interactive Theater, dance, and visual arts with storytelling that provide personal tools for positive decision making throughout life.
July 2020
Collective Motion
.png){kind=icon}
April 2021
Amidst the pandemic, CommUNITY Arts Festival and Collective Motion merged to consolidate resources and increase our the impact of the arts for the St. Louis region under the name CommUNITY Arts STL.
October 2020
CommUNTY Arts Festival
CommUNITY Arts adopted the stumpery garden at the Vandeventer Meditation and Healing Garden Park
