This forum has been designed to provide access to expertise and information-sharing for art education and sustainable development projects in developing countries. Our main purpose is to make the joys and benefits of artmaking accessible to the poorest people of the world. Working in communities where the need is greatest, we demonstrate the artistic and economic benefits of employing traditional practices and indigenous resources: for example, high-quality, low-cost paints made with native earth colors. This is particularly important for schools that cannot afford to conduct art classes because of the high cost of imported materials. The main focus of the program is therefore on education, developing teacher-training aids and providing workshops to show how these art materials can be made and used in the classroom. The classroom is also used as a springboard for community mural projects, often involving at-risk children, with social, cultural, and health messages. The program also facilitates indigenous artist and artisan projects, often in association with environmental management planning for fragile ecosystems.

Based on a Latin American model developed by William Swetcharnik, professional artist and Senior Fulbright Fellow, this program is now being made available for applications worldwide. Initially known as the "Latin American Art Resource Project", the worldwide incarnation of the program uses the name "Art Resources for Sustainable Development and Education". A new website has been created at www.swetcharnik.com/resources, with some content from our previous site (www.hood.edu/academic/art/laarp) plus extensive documentation about the seven years while the program was based in Central America and the Caribbean. We welcome information on similar efforts worldwide. Since the program depends almost entirely on unpaid support - including that of its director - volunteers, interns, and all kinds of collaborators are welcome to join in. Thanks for visiting!