Time In Children's Arts Initiative: Empowering Youth Through Arts Education

Time In Children's Arts Initiative is a transformative arts-education organization based in New York City, specifically serving underserved communities in Harlem and the Bronx. Founded by Cyndie Bellen-Berthézène, the initiative bridges the gap in access to the arts for at-risk public school children from 3K through 5th grade. The organization's core philosophy centers on Seeing 20-20, a replicable, interdisciplinary model that incorporates high-quality arts enrichment—including opera, visual arts, and literacy—directly into the normal school day. Students engage in weekly studio work, gallery hops through Chelsea, and visits to major institutions like the Whitney and Guggenheim. By treating children as active artists rather than passive spectators, Time In Children's Arts Initiative fosters critical thinking, self-esteem, and cultural literacy. Since its inception, the initiative has reached over 3,000 students, providing thousands of contact hours of programming supported by organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts and the William S. Paley Foundation. The program remains a vital advocate for educational equity, ensuring that every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, can experience the beauty and power of the living arts as a staple of their public education.