British author Brian Aldiss said, “Whatever creativity is, it is, in part, a solution to a problem.” Mississippi State University’s Department of Art has recently become a solution in the Starkville community by sending MSU art students to volunteer at the Starkville Boys & Girls Club.
The Boys & Girls Club’s official mission statement is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” The Department of Art helps these young people explore their creative side by creating embroidery pieces, origami and collage drawings with the kids. The Boys & Girls Club students are also working on a hallway mural designed by high school students from the Boys & Girls Club and MSU art students.  This arts  exposure is meant to build character and leadership skills, as well as teach the kids the value of art at a young age.
Lori Neuenfeldt, coordinator for the Visual Arts Center and director of outreach programs at the Department of Art, said the Department of Art reinforces lessons learned by Boys & Girls Club students by inviting the kids to come see exhibits at the MSU art galleries. These exhibits allow the students to understand the rewards of hard work, inciting the students to forth effort in other areas of their lives as well as the arts.
Adrienne Callander, lecturer in 2D Design and Art appreciation, said the outreach program has been a great experience.
“It is a total delight to bring college-age students in contact with Starkville youth,” she said. “The Boys & Girls Club staff is generous, organized and caring and the children in their care are engaging and intelligent. It is incredibly rewarding working with everyone involved in this project.”
Austin Grove, sophomore art major, said the experience has been beneficial for the MSU students involved, as well.
“It is a lot of fun. The kids are great and light up over the projects. I think arts education is important for kids, and I want to help out with that however I can,” he said.
The department also matches up student volunteers with projects by the Starkville Area Arts Council. Students on this council will work at the Cotton District Arts Festival this weekend and sitting on the Starkville Area Arts Council Art in Public Places Committee. 
The new Art Supply Recycling project pushes availability of the arts in Starkville even further. This project allows students to send their used art supplies to the Visual Arts Center so anyone in the community can access them.
Neuenfeldt said this makes art available to all members of the community, regardless of financial restrictions.
“We want everyone to have access to making and learning through art-related activities. Funding for cost of supplies should not stop them,” she said.