Summer Academic Enrichment Eligible Programs

Goals

Goal 1: Students learn about an artistic, cultural practice

Objective 1: Students receive a period of instruction from a professional teaching artist. Objective 2: Students are taught how to use art materials in a specific application, such as an art project. Objective 3: Students make connections between the origins of artistic practices and the present day.

To achieve these objectives and goal, WBCA will: ensure teaching artists have a professional level of proficiency in their craft, understand the expectations of what will be covered in class, and actively support the students through both classroom instruction and individualized attention.

Goal 2: Students demonstrate growth in confidence and self-expression

Objective 1: Students take an active role in creating a work of art. Objective 2: Students apply ideas from their interests and experiences in class. Objective 3: Students practice communicating about their work and can explain what they have created.

To achieve these objectives and goal, WBCA will: support and encourage student’s participation in the activities, give opportunities in class for students to share their work, and demonstrate how students can make different personal choices with the art materials.

Goal 3: Students form healthy social relationships with their peers and adult teaching artists

Objective 1: Students and teachers maintain respect through both periods of instruction and working time. Objective 2: All students are engaged in class and feel comfortable participating. Objective 3: Students feel welcome to use WBCA’s amenities and can navigate around the art center.

To achieve these objectives and goal, WBCA will: communicate clear expectations to teaching artists and reflect the organization’s values within their contract, support the classroom environment with trained volunteers, welcome and assist students throughout the day, and ensure students’ families are familiar with the art center.

Activities

Major studies conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts have demonstrated linkages between students’ participation in arts classes and increased academic achievement (in both arts and non-arts related subjects); better physical, social, and emotional health; increased civic engagement and sense of place; and improved self-expression, confidence, and sense of self-worth. By achieving the goals described above, Imagine Art! creates a durable impact in the lives of students.

Although the subject, instructor, and media changes, the format of most Imagine Art! classes are similar. The teacher begins with introductions and a basic orientation of the classroom and art center. Students are shown the art materials, examples of finished work (both physically and through other media like photos), and given historical examples and grounding context that is age-appropriate.

A few classes are offered for multiple weeks on the same day, such as with clay classes. During the multi-day sessions, students are continuing to work on pieces week-to-week, building on skills, and learning traditions that require time in between steps.

Students receive working time and get individualized attention from both their teacher and volunteer classroom assistants. Volunteers receive training from WBCA, an opportunity that some Imagine Art! students have ‘paid forward’ after aging out of the program. At the end of class, students are always proud to show their work and are excited to bring their projects home. Some students and families coordinate lunch (in the library, atrium, community room, or outdoors at WBCA’s campus) and remain at WBCA all day. Families are welcome to explore the gallery exhibitions and enjoy art center activities while waiting for their students.

Program Dates

White Bear Center for the Arts (WBCA) offers summer arts classes for youth in fine arts, performing arts, and world cultures through its Imagine Art! program. Imagine Art! has been offered since 2006, and in 2022 will run from June 14, 2022 to August 8, 2022.

Classes are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays by a variety of professional teaching artists, covering a range of subjects including: ceramics, sculpture, drawing, painting, textiles, theater, dance, paper, cooking, and nonwestern traditions like suminigashi and shibori.

The sessions are generally from 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM during the mornings, and from 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM in the afternoons. Classes run approximately 2.5 hours, at a rate of $45/class. This format allows students and families to participate based on their schedules throughout the summer, and select sessions on an a’la carte basis.

WBCA publishes an Imagine Art! catalog in March, from which students and parents select classes based on their schedules. In 2019, 93 classes were offered in the catalog.

Pre-recorded classes will continue to be offered, but after two summers of mostly virtual offerings, WBCA is focusing on creating in-person activities for summer 2022.

Can students reside on campus? No

Can students commute to campus? Yes

Can students take online classes? Yes