THE ARTIST BOAT INC

Eco-Art Workshops & AdventuresThe Artist Boat, Inc. served 6,066 participants over the course of the 2023-2024 fiscal year through Eco-Art Workshops and Adventures, engaging them in classroom, studio, laboratory, and field-based environmental educational activities, integrating the arts and sciences for the exploration of coastal and marine habitats. The Artist Boat, Inc.s program participants are of all ages and come from a variety of backgrounds. They include students ranging from elementary school age to lifelong learners over age 55, teachers, and the general public. Each of the programs is designed to interpret coastal and marine ecosystems through various visual art media, including drawing and painting, mosaic installation, and sculpture. Educational topics covered by these programs include the physical and biological components, benefits and multiple uses, point and non-point source pollution, flora/fauna, historical perspectives, and efforts toward restoration of habitats in coastal and marine ecosystems, with special emphasis on issues affecting the Gulf of Mexico and the Texas coast. Field-based activities include excursions into local habitats and incorporate the use of kayaks and motor vessels. Additionally, The Artist Boat, Inc. provides outreach and engagement on the public beaches of Galveston Island and regional festivals. These are environmental education programs Bucket Brigade (45-minute beach exploration tours with a marine biologist), World Ocean Day (festival hosting booths, presenters, and hands-on engagement), Beautify the Bucket (beautification of trash receptacles on Galveston beaches), and art contests (art created with marine debris). 8,769 participants of all ages were served through this program.

Coastal Heritage PreserveThe Coastal Heritage Preserve is an 1,039 -acre tract of undeveloped land on the west end of Galveston Island comprised of estuarine and palustrine wetlands, tidal flats, and upland coastal habitats. This preserve serves as a platform for the delivery of The Artist Boat, Inc.s integrated arts and science-based environmental education programs. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, The Artist Boat, Inc. engaged 900 volunteers in habitat management, restoration, debris removal, installation of public access amenities and controls, and related stewardship activities at the Coastal Heritage Preserve.