Kirkland Arts Center has received $25,000 from the Bradley Family Foundation to support of its youth education programs, most notably Make Your Mark.

Make Your Mark is an out-of-school time program aimed at supporting young people’s social and emotional development through art making.

According to a press release, the Bradley Family Foundation has the mission of “supporting education of our youth and those with special needs.” The foundation aims to support educational programs that assist and inspire people to achieve self sufficiency.

“Kirkland Arts Center is grateful for the Bradley Family Foundation’s generous support and for their commitment to supporting youth in our community,” the release states. “Kirkland Arts Center believes in the power of art to ignite individual growth, cultivate community, and improve the quality of life for all. We are excited to partner with the Bradley Family Foundation to support youth development and positively impact our broader community.”

According to the release, the arts center promotes artistic mastery and community participation in the visual arts through “innovative educational programming, contemporary exhibitions, and dynamic events while providing stewardship of the historic Peter Kirk Building.” KAC contributes to the region through an exploration of the visual arts, cultivation of artistic growth, and service to a diverse community. The center builds community through art, advocates for teaching artists, and inspires others to address challenges with creativity and visual thinking.

KAC was founded as the Creative Arts League in 1962 by artists and citizens interested in providing local opportunities in the arts and preserving a Kirkland landmark, the Peter Kirk Building. For more than 50 years, KAC has owned and maintained this historic structure and transformed it into an exhibition gallery, community arts studios and classrooms serving students of all ages and skill levels, according to the release.