| The Art Experience's ARTS PROGRAMS |
Open Studio Days and Evenings:
Artists' Circle Program:
- This program provides opportunity for participants to form creative partnerships and
mentoring relationships while exercising their creativity. They find themselves defining
and pursuing personal goals with artistic and personal expression as vehicles. These
accomplishments often positively impact seemingly unrelated areas of their lives like
personal well-being, career direction, education and spirituality.
- Award winning program offered to community youth (ages 10-18 without disabilities, 10-26
with disabilities). Civitan Club of Pontiac funding allows for decrease in fees. Designed to
bring youth with and without disabilities together in an inclusive setting. It is a
concentrated four-day a week, three hours per day for two weeks studio experience
targeting youth who show strong interest in the arts. They are introduced to basic
drawing, painting and color therapy. Students complete numerous drawings, one acrylic
painting on stretched canvas and participate in a culminating exhibit. Group interaction
and problem solving are encouraged. The creative environment allows students
experience their own resourcefulness while contributing to each other's experience with
the arts. Partial funding from Pontiac Optimist Club provides five scholarships to fourth
and fifth grade students from Pontiac schools. 16 students and 2 facilitators.
- A schedule of weekday art programs offered to community youth -- classes are limited in
size providing an opportunity for individual mentoring, communication with other student
artists, and enjoyment. Focus is on a selected medium or theme. Sessions are one day
weekly for 5 weeks and serve ages 10-18 without disabilities, and 10-26 with disabilities.
Participants are recruited from public, private, and home schooled populations. Limited to
16 students; 2 facilitators. This program is supported in part by the Oakland County Office
of Arts, Culture & Film.
Artists' Circle Program:
- Art Therapy based daytime option offered to members of the community interested in
exploring their creativity. Groups meet two hours, one day weekly. Goals are parallel to
those of Open Studio Days and Evenings.
- This program assists artists with disabilities in developing their artistic talent, creating
portfolios of their work and attaining greater visibility in the local art community. The Art
Experience provides an artistically stimulating studio atmosphere. Currently serving one
artist (four days per week, 5 hours per day), supporting himself in the program as part of
his person-centered planning.
- Provides a continuum targeting individuals already experienced in basic fine art skills to
work toward mastery in the medium of their choosing. Participants strengthen their
creative community through an affirming critique process that helps them set creative
goals and gain direction.
- A drop in studio experience designed to explore each persons creative potential through
participation in creative processes. Every month, participants and mentoring artists work
with a different art medium providing opportunities to experiment, have fun, and explore
new creative possibilities. The Creative Café welcomes people of all ages and abilities to
learn with and from each other. Community artists are invited to share their talents and
experience by teaching a class.
- Weekly two-hour sessions devoted to those who dance to the beat of a different drum.
Through art, participants imagine and re-imagine their past, present, and future in a
mutually supportive environment. They explore how they are creative and how that
creativity may work for them in all areas of their lives -- decision-making, family life and
career crossroads. Participants feel encouraged by the resulting healthy attitude. Co-
facilitated by Lynne Kingsbury, MSW.
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