Amelia Rabroker

Founder, Artist, & Educator

Art has always been the language of Amelia’s life. Growing up in a family of artists, she learned early on that creativity isn’t just an extracurricular activity—it is how we process the world, tell stories, and heal. With formal training from Austin Community College and a degree in Art Education from Baylor University, Amelia spent over a decade teaching in the public school system, primarily working with military-connected children in Killeen ISD. During those 11 years, she saw firsthand that art was often the safest place for a child to process change and grief, yet it was frequently the first program to face budget cuts.

Instead of waiting for the system to stabilize, Amelia decided to build something of her own. Thirteen years ago, she founded Tap Tap Art School, a mobile venture inspired by the vibrantly painted transport buses of Haiti. She began by teaching out of her car before purchasing a bus and transforming it into a traveling studio that brought immersive art experiences directly to students. As the program grew, families began asking for a permanent home, leading Amelia to purchase a house in Harker Heights and transform it into The Art Space of Central Texas.

Amelia’s mission is rooted in the deep belief that art is foundational, not just decorative. She created this space to be a community ecosystem where art is treated as a developmental and therapeutic necessity. For over 30 years, she has remained a fierce advocate for arts funding and mental health support through creative expression, ensuring that both children and professional artists are treated with the dignity they deserve.

"I started as an artist. I am still creating. The canvas is simply larger now." — Amelia Rabroker