The Haverhill Boys Club is a children's recreation program that offers weekly arts and photography instruction, serving hundreds of boys, ages 6-17 years old. The class, which has been taught by artist Sharon Silverman for the past 25 years, teaches disciplines such as watercolor, pastel, drawing and photography.

"I love to push a child's imagination by having them create art from unusual materials." Silverman says. "I might have my art class create modern paintings with colored duct tape one day, then the next day, we are out finding and photographing hidden art within our community. It's important to me to show each child that in art and photography the possibilities are endless...if you can imagine it, you can create it."

This exemplary program, which was nominated by the Haverhill Cultural Council, received a Gold Star Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2007. Silverman was presented the Gold Star Award by the Haverhill Cultural Council in May 2007, at the Buttonwoods Museum in Haverhill, where her students' work had been exhibited.

The program provides valuable art instruction that is often not being offered in the public schools, and access to creative experiences that help to shape positive self-esteem. It also offers students the opportunity to display their work in a community exhibition. Local judges select winners in several categories, who are then entered to compete in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America national exhibit contest. Over the years, students from the Haverhill program have gone on to win the national competition and received scholarships for college. The arts and photography program also partnered with the LEAP Haverhill! (Let's Embrace the Arts and Preservation) summer program to teach the children about the historic significance of downtown Haverhill. The students created murals featuring the shoe industry and unique architecture from the late 19th century, which were displayed in Columbus Park in Haverhill.

The Boys Club is currently undergoing renovations and in the fall of 2008 the arts and photography program will be open to girls.