Staff Reports | Community Updates
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona has changed its name to Art Heals Arizona.
The announcement is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21 at the nonprofit’s Blooming in Hope Soiree at its office at 352 E. Camelback Road. The new name is intended to better reflect the organization’s mission and strengthen its connection with the community and supporters, according to a press release.
“We’ve discussed a potential name change for a while now,” said Matt Sandoval, chief executive officer of Art Heals Arizona, formerly Free Arts. “The change serves several purposes, including making it clearer what our organization does and focusing on healing and the return to well-being instead of giving space to adverse experiences.”
The transition has been in development for a year. Approved in February 2025, the organization has been preparing for the rollout behind the scenes.
Ms. Sandoval said the change responds to concerns raised in recent years, including the desire to remove stigmatizing language from the branding. Some former participants and volunteers expressed discomfort with the term “abused children” being prominent in the organization’s name.
Removing the phrase shifts the emphasis toward the organization’s solution-focused approach: healing through art.
Other factors driving the change include improving clarity for potential participants, community partners and donors, as well as supporting marketing and outreach efforts. The organization said the new name more clearly communicates its role in helping restore well-being through creative expression.
