Part of our mission at the Madison Artists Guild is to reach past our gallery walls and offer educational arts outreach programs that nurture our community through the arts.
As Kelly Pollock stated, we believe that "the true purpose of arts education is to not necessarily create more professional artists. It's to create more complete human beings who are critical thinkers, who have curious minds, and who can lead productive lives."
Art for Life: Building Creativity, Community and Connection is a collaborative project created by veteran art program instructors and working artists, Elizabeth Collins and Chuck Hanes, and Angelina Bellebuono, facilitator of the social/emotional development component.
This donor-funded program includes two school sessions per week, field trips, and community involvement to middle and high school children attending the Morgan County Alternative School.
For over 17 years, students at Morgan County Crossroads School have built, painted, sculpted, and woven things in a once a week art class as part of an education outreach program through Steffen Thomas Museum. In 2019, the Crossroads program expanded its scope, changed it name, and began operating under the guidance of the Madison Artists Guild. The program continues to gain local and regional recognition.
This year, Crossroads students will learn basic photography skills and build a body of artistic work around the themes of community and connection, which will be printed and displayed on one exterior wall of the Crossroads school building for the duration of the school year. The community will be invited to a drive-up exhibit on Wednesday, December 16!
Read the Morgan County Citizen article about Art for Life here.
Your support and contributions will enable us to provide our youth with this important program. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
For children in the Morgan County Boys & Girls Club program who exhibit an interest in art or creating things, MAG provides an advanced art class once a week taught by instructors and working artists Elizabeth Collins and Chuck Hanes. Students learn various art techniques and processes each semester to further enrich their experience through the Boys & Girls Club after-school program.
Your donations help us provide art programming for these great kids.