The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate The SPACE: Free Art For All for earning the Standards basics recognition under the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.
To earn the Standards basics recognition, The SPACE: Free Art For All went through an application process, which included a review by Standards of Excellence Institute staff to verify that it has strong policies in place for good governance and legal compliance, and a well-defined mission with impactful programs.
The SPACE provides a place where the Prince George’s County community can come together to discover themselves and each other through art to heal, share, and question their experiences. The SPACE serves children, teens, adults, and older adults across diverse racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly individuals and families who face financial barriers to accessing arts and creative opportunities.
The SPACE provides free arts programming and community resources that support creativity, connection, and wellbeing. Open Studio offers art supplies, equipment, and space for creative exploration. Free piano and guitar classes expand access to music education. Workshops introduce skills such as sewing, jewelry making, and 3D printing, while entrepreneurship programs help young people develop ideas, create products, and build business skills. The Free Market, Community Library, and Little Pink Pantry provide access to donated goods, books, and food.
Executive Director, Shaymar Higgs, says “The Standards for Excellence has helped The SPACE strengthen the structure behind our community-centered work. It has given us a clearer framework for board governance, financial oversight, policies, and accountability, while helping us identify where we need more consistent systems and shared responsibilities. As a small, founder-led organization, the experience has encouraged us to move beyond relying on one person and toward a more sustainable organization, while preserving the accessibility, creativity, and responsiveness that make The SPACE meaningful to our community.”
Congratulations again to The SPACE: Free Art For All for this achievement.
The Standards for Excellence Institute encourages all nonprofits to check out the Standards for Excellence code and to consider applying for accreditation or recognition. A good place to start is with one of the free online self-assessments, which provide a detailed, actionable report, along with links to resources.
