GREENFIELD — Backed by $47,000 in grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and United Way, Artspace Community Arts Center will launch a new free art class for teens in November while also furthering its Clay as Care initiative.
Artspace, a community arts organization on Mill Street, recently announced that registration has opened for the new Teen Art Collective, supported by a $20,000 Massachusetts Cultural Council grant. The collective will meet on Thursdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. beginning Nov. 5, and will offer free instruction and mentorship in drawing, sculpture, portraiture, painting and more to local teens.
“The Teen Art Collective is intended to help teens immerse in visual arts and find their creative voice,” Chloe Torri, Artspace’s outreach and communications manager, who designed the program and will serve as the lead teacher, said in a statement. “Whether a kid is coming to the program with skills and passion already, or is just curious about art, we’re excited to welcome them to TAC.”
The program will be divided into three blocks. During Block A (November/December), teens will focus on experimenting with new mediums, finding their voices and setting goals. During Block B (January through March), participants will continue working on their pieces, practice writing about their work and develop artist’s statements. Block C (April through June) will be focused on completing their work, reaching goals and preparing for community events.
As part of the Teen Art Collective, participants will plan, design and install a gallery exhibit at Artspace in the spring.
Registration is available at artspacegreenfield.org/event-details/teen-art-collective.
Meanwhile, Artspace also recently received a three-year grant from the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region totaling $27,000 to support its Clay as Care initiative. Through Clay as Care, Artspace partners with social service agencies to provide therapeutic ceramics workshops focused on offering art as a tool for emotional regulation, peer support and skill-building. The program aims to help people who are in circumstances that make it challenging to participate in art classes, such as food or housing insecurity, intellectual disability or substance use disorder, to embrace arts-based healing.
Artspace will host an information session for interested social service agencies on Oct. 15. Those who are interested are advised to email grants@artspacegreenfield.org to register.
“These two grants will help Artspace offer programming that is custom-designed to meet people where they are, and ensure that there are opportunities for folks in all walks of life to make art. Whether it’s a busy teen juggling school and work, or someone who needs support just to meet their basic needs, everyone needs opportunities to express their creativity,” Artspace Director Madeline Miller said in a statement. “Artspace exists to create those opportunities, and we’re deeply grateful to these two funding agencies for supporting our efforts.”