Emerald Art Center, in collaboration with Springfield Public Schools and Springfield Arts Commission, has developed a visual arts education program, TEACH Arts for children ages 2-12. The Chambers Foundation has provided start-up funds for this visual arts outreach program. TEACH Arts sessions began in September 2006. The program continues on.
TEACH Arts is patterned after a successful arts program designed by Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and is unique in offering classes for pre-school children ages 2-3 (Baby Picasso), ages 4-5 (Doodle Bugs & Splat) as well as classes for the elementary ages: (Art Around the World) ages 6-7, (Birds, Beasts and Blossoms) ages 6-7, (Quirky Contemporaries) ages 8-9 and (Teach me Techniques) ages 10-12.
TEACH Arts' mission - To offer high quality visual arts education to all members of the community- stands on three pillars of intention: education, access and awareness.
Education
TEACH Arts provides the main visual arts education for preschoolers as well as elementary children in the Springfield and Lane County area and provide opportunities in a region where schools are losing arts specialization programs due to budget restraints. In Springfield alone 16 elementary schools serving 5,172 children are not able to provide any visual art education for their students.
Access
Emerald Art Center is working to keep costs low as well as provide scholarships to low-income families, increasing access to arts education across the economic spectrum.
Awareness
Emerald Arts Center will be producing children's arts events open to everyone free of charge. These include Free Family Art Sundays to be held one Sunday a month from 2:00-4:00 pm where the Emerald Art Center will present an afternoon of art activities with an emphasis on cultural diversity for family and friends. The Children's Celebration at Island Park and Children's Art Festival at the Springfield Library will also provide free art festival days that will be structured to increase awareness of children's art to a broad section of the community.
Emerald Art Center is seeking support, donations, partnerships, and sponsorships from a variety of sources that have expressed interest in TEACH Arts. These include Springfield Arts Commission, Willamalane Parks & Recreation District, Springfield Rotary Club, and Comcast. Already the community is joining together to ensure a strong beginning for a worthwhile and much needed program.