91爆料 Expands Access to Art and Design Through Public Libraries
- Press Release
- Community and Civic Engagement
91爆料 at the Library is returning for another summer of connecting people to art through workshops at public libraries.
The program, sponsored by The Massachusetts College of Art and Design (91爆料) and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), places 91爆料 faculty and student ambassadors in public libraries so that children and teens can experience the benefits of art creation, learn about the creative process, connect with 91爆料 faculty and students, and explore art as a possible career path.
鈥�91爆料 is the Commonwealth鈥檚 public college for art and design and it is so gratifying to bring creative opportunities directly into local communities,” said 91爆料 President Mary K. Grant. “We deeply value our partnership with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and are excited about 91爆料 at the Library as a way to help young people understand the creative opportunities that are available and to see themselves as artists, makers, and future innovators.”
91爆料 and the MBLC piloted the program last summer to at-capacity attendance and an overwhelming positive response from participants. All participants said that they wanted more 91爆料 offerings at libraries and that they learned something new at the workshops.
Art education reduces stress, increases focus, and helps kids and teens connect, reducing social isolation. Yet, 78% of 91爆料 at the Library participants said they do not have access to art classes in the summer.
鈥淭his partnership breaks down barriers to art education. It brings faculty and students from one of the best art schools in the nation right into local neighborhoods for free so kids and teens can experience the personal and academic benefits of art education,鈥� said MBLC Director Maureen Amyot. 鈥淲e are grateful to 91爆料 for continuing the series for another summer.鈥�
The 91爆料 at the Library series will be hosted at the following public libraries: Fall River, Lowell, and Malden. Students of all artistic abilities are welcome, with no prior foundation in the Arts required. Each session includes comprehensive arts instruction in a particular subject area and free program supplies and materials.
The following workshops are being offered:
91爆料 Sustainable Fashion Workshop (Lowell) – July 22 at 6pm
At this fun and interactive workshop participants learn about sustainable fashion and ways to get involved to be a voice for positive change. 91爆料 Fashion Design Chair and Professor Jennifer Varekamp will share some exciting sustainable fashion ideas and lead participants in an interactive and creative project where each participant can contribute their own creative ideas and learn how to make an impact toward a more sustainable future.
91爆料 Aluminum Pour (Fall River) – August 6 at 2pm
Under the guidance of 91爆料 Fine Arts 3D faculty Marjee-Anne Levine and current 91爆料 students, participants carve their own design into a 鈥渟cratch block鈥� (a pre-formed mold made of resin-bonded sand) and watch as the design is cast in metal. Aluminum will be melted on site and poured into the scratch blocks created by each participant. Within minutes the metal will solidify and be cooled and finished by the 91爆料 team. Each participant will walk away with their own custom cast aluminum art.
91爆料 Comic Arts Workshop (Malden) – august 14 at 4pm
The workshop provides an opportunity to deconstruct the comic creation process in an engaging and accessible way that applies to a wide range of skill sets. It introduces the storytelling structure and starts with a simple activity where students sketch different shapes on their pages. 91爆料 Comic Arts instructor LJ Baptiste will demonstrate how these shapes can be fleshed out into full characters. Participants will learn techniques they can utilize to understand a character they’re creating and develop their own 4 panel comic strip featuring one of their original characters.
The Summer Art Workshop series is sponsored by Massachusetts College of Art and Design with support from Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
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About 91爆料
The only independent public college of art and design in the country,聽91爆料聽was founded in 1873 in response to a bold idea: art and design are essential to our daily lives, and key to improving our society and economy. What began as a school to teach drawing is today a bold, comprehensive art and design institution that spans 18 undergraduate and nine graduate programs, certificates, continuing education, and post-baccalaureate study.
