Our Mission

Our mission is to strengthen communities - particularly those that are underserved and historically disadvantaged - by investing in people through literary and performing arts. We aim to make art accessible, entertaining, informative and inspirational.

OUR VISION

We envision a world where all people see themselves in the creative arts and can tap into its healing powers to strengthen themselves and their communities.

OUR STORY

Established in 2015, Art Prevails Project had its actual inception many years before. As a child, our Founder and Artistic Director, Darius V. Daughtry, learned the powerful impact that the arts can have on a person and community.

At the age of 8, I was given a notebook and a pen and told that my pain and anger didn’t have to stay inside of me.

At that early age, Darius began using poetry as a vehicle for self-expression. As his written rants turned to thoughtful lines, he also began dabbling with acting. Those two art forms help lift him and drive him towards college and beyond.

Recognizing the impact the arts had on his life led him find ways to impact communities with the same gift. After college, he worked with multiple nonprofit organizations as a teaching artist. After a stint in the corporate sector, Darius took his passion for change to public school. It was there that he truly realized the direct impact the arts can have on the lives of young people and the communities in which the reside.

As an educator, he created multiple after-school programs that became same places for youth seeking refuge.

After 10 years in the classroom, Darius spent time was a Program Director for nonprofit organization before answering the call to cast a wider net.

I was doing good work where I was, but I knew there was a greater need that needed that needed tending to.

In 2015, Darius founded Art Prevails Project with a goal of creating a platform that would make art accessible for EVERYONE.

OUR IMPACT

SINCE 2016

OUR partners