| The Development of the Center's Education
Programs The ArtReach program
began serving the Abilene area when three Center Artist Members, Clint Hamilton,
Ruth Jackson and Patty Rae Wellborn offered free art classes to a few small groups
of elderly and disabled clients from Abilene social service agencies. The program
was a success, but growth was slow, and there was little funding. As years passed,
more and more requests for ArtReach services arrived, and the program began serving
new audiences, including area youth. The goals
of ArtReach enrichment programs and classes are to give participants the opportunity
to: improve critical thinking, spatial/temporal reasoning and social skills, develop
positive self-concepts, and nourish a life-long love of art. Under
the guidance of our education coordinator, Burgess "Bird" Thomas, ArtReach
provides the community with the following types of programs:
- Free weekly art classes for the special needs and underserved populations -
Arts enrichment programs - Tuition-based art classes and camps for children
ages 9-12, teens and adults Our education coordinator
ensures that ArtReach Programs are aligned with the TEKS objectives in art, as
well as in math, social studies, science, language arts and reading. Agencies
include Adaptive Recreation Services, Abilene Christian University, Big Brothers
Big Sisters, Disability Resources, Inc., Hardin Simmons University, McMurry University,
Taylor County Detention Center, and the Taylor County Jail. Continual requests
and an outpouring of gratitude from partnering schools and agencies showcase the
ongoing need for arts educational programming in our community. This
year we have integrated more aspects of art therapy and social work into our program
so participants can be exposed to the therapeutic benefit of art applications.
Requests from ArtReach programs at the Taylor County Juvenile Justice Center and
the Taylor County Jail have created a unique situation to incorporate more aspects
of art therapy and hands-on learning for the participants. In
2010, the Center for Contemporary Arts and the Taylor County Jail collaborated
to bring therapy in art to the inmates. Once a week, an art instructor from the
Center provides art classes that are available to inmates as a reward for good
behavior in addition to being an outlet for self-expression. Long-time Center
for Contemporary Arts artist members and instructors Ruth Jackson and Katy Presswood
have provided their students with a creative environment where they can learn
about composition, color, technique, and execution. "The feelings come from
within but the technical skills can be taught" is how Katy Presswood describes
her teaching experience at the Taylor County Detention Center and Taylor County
Jail. The ArtReach Program provides the Center an opportunity
to partner with over 20 area schools and agencies. We anticipate serving over
1,000 individuals during the 2010-11 ArtReach Program. The Center will also continue
conducting our monthly gallery talks during our ArtWalk Program at no cost to
our visitors. Gallery talks enable our visitors to become active participants
in our three main programs: ArtReach, ArtWalk, and Exhibits. The
Center for Contemporary Arts is also actively working with Abilene university
students from Abilene Christian University, Hardin Simmons University, and McMurry
to help mentor them in art education and application. Movie Night @ The Center
was created so university students (as well as high school students) could be
exposed to art related films and group discussions led by seasoned Center artist
members. Our education coordinator personally screens all the films prior to viewing
and works with university professors to ensure the films and discussions are integrated
into the syllabus and semester curriculum. In order to
continue with the highest quality of programming at the Center, our education
coordinator individually selects program instructors who are trained educators
and/or artist members or staff at the Center for Contemporary Arts. Not only do
these individuals encompass the artistic and educational expertise to train individuals
from various backgrounds, but they also have a passion for teaching and a love
for the arts. Prior to beginning the ArtReach courses, our education coordinator
conducts a training session for all instructors and requests all agencies and
schools served by the program complete evaluations. This system allows the Center
to monitor and track all aspects of the ArtReach Program, to ensure that the highest
level of programming is being provided to our agencies and schools served. For
more information on educational offerings, contact the Center’s Education
Coordinator, Burgess Thomas, at 325.677.8389 or bird@center-arts.com
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