Educational Programming is critical to the Art Center’s community service programming and one of the most important ways it fulfills its commitment to “bringing art and people together.” These programs make an educational visual arts experience available to underserved, economically disadvantaged and/or marginalized audiences, including: serving at-risk youth; theelderly; persons with disabilities; children from dual-working parent households; children from diverse populations; and individuals from low-income households. The Art Center provides an art professional on-site at partner institutions to instruct and engage students over a course of multiple sessions, while additional programs that take place at the Art Center.

The Art Center’s Programs for Special Audiences are carefully designed to augment the services provided by the partner social service organization, school, or community-based group and tailored to the specific needs of the partner institution. Curricula encourage self-expression through the study of art history, interpretation, vocabulary, and design and explore creative processes, tools, and techniques. Participants create original works of art and gain a sense of accomplishment and enhanced self-esteem.

A brief overview of the Programs for Special Audiences for FY10/11: