The N.A.H.S. & Art Club at the International Academy West organize local school & community-oriented projects as well as international & global projects. This includes visiting local elementary & middle schools to plan and communicate with administrators/teachers to decorate their school and explore creative opportunities giving them a creative outlet and encouraging them to pursue artistic activities. Ultimately, it makes the school a brighter, more colorful place. Amongst a different age bracket in the community, students send off Holiday Cards to a elderly care facilities. Due to past and ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the residents were unable to have visitors during this time. Art students hoped to convey the positive message of love to the residents through art and creative expression to showcase the support of the community. In these instances, the value of art is irreplaceable in the scope of community connections and communication. 

In addition to local contributions, students participate in the Memory Project which organizes the exchange of portraiture between nations. It entails communication with an International Liaison who takes photos of students in lesser developed countries and sends them to the registered N.A.H.S. students to creatively express the identity of the student in the photo. Students have complete creative liberty with how they portray the artwork. Not only is this project fulfilling for the recipients, but also the artists. It helps to create art without borders and encapsulates the power of art. It is an active representation of how art can bring together communities and individuals regardless of distance and cultural background.

These artists channel their passions into current world problems to help spread awareness and make positive changes among their peers. With the rising problem of global warming, students take creative action to offer more sustainable lifestyle changes. They collect plastic bottles to make reusable planters and decorative plastic flowers out of the bottle material. As plastic never fully breaks down, these projects offer an alternative use to further develop the uses of recycled goods and ways to uniquely beautify the planet. 

With countless opportunities presented throughout each year, students learn about the values, uses, and practicality of art by giving back to their community through their creative talents.