Art education to reach 2,500 students; Van Buren center plans expansion

story and photos by Marla Cantrell
[email protected]

When school resumes, 2,500 elementary schoolchildren will have the opportunity to learn about art through a program provided by The Center for Art and Education in Van Buren.

“We go to six elementary schools in Van Buren,” said Jane Owen, executive director of The Center for Art and Education. “We have local, professional artists that go to the classrooms, and help teachers present lessons and create art.”

It’s an expensive endeavor. In 2009, the center spent approximately $80,000 out of a $204,000 operating budget on school programs. Owen said the return on the investment is incalculable.

“If we are teaching these kids work ethic, teaching them how to chronologically work through things, solve problems – if we have ten successes, how can you put a dollar value on that?”

Children play into the program even after school ends. The center works with the Crawford County library system’s summer reading program, bringing books alive with art projects.

“We go to Van Buren, Winslow, Alma, Mulberry, Cedarville, Ozark, Lavaca and Greenwood for one-week camps,” Owen said. “We do a power point presentation on the illustrator of the book selected by the library. This year we had 300 kids in our outreach program, and another 80 in our studio here at 103 N. 13th  And we never turn anybody down. If a parent can’t pay the small fee we charge, we take the child anyway. We want everybody to have an opportunity to learn about art.”

Owen said one of the most surprising things about working with the children is the calming effect art has on children.

“I think part of our success is that we do things step-by-step,” Owen said. “Kids are missing that now. They think everything has to happen now. It seems like they get more frustrated now if they don’t finish a project. But art is fun and we show them that. We also teach them the components artists use – such as always having something dark and something light in a piece – that makes their work successful.”

Owen, who has worked or volunteered at the center for 27 years, said the amount of work they do, and the number of people the programs touch, is comparable with much larger art centers. Owen credits her volunteers and her three full-time staff members for making it all run smoothly.

“We touch lives from pre-schoolers all the way through adulthood,” Owen said. “We have about a dozen senior citizens who come here and do art, have lunch, and critique each others work. They sometimes bring poetry. It helps them maintain friendships, do something creative, and keep their motor skills working.”

Owen is also proud of their push to bring art to people who wouldn’t otherwise have it in their daily lives.

“One of my favorite things is to take exhibits to places like Experian. They love the art and look forward to us changing out the pieces. It must be nice for them – I know their work can be stressful.”

The center is housed in the historic St. Michael’s Catholic Church, just a stone’s throw away from the new library, which is set to open early next year. It’s paid for, thanks to the generosity of individual donors, foundation grants, and yearly fundraisers. But it isn’t quite big enough, or as easily accessible as Owen would like.

There are plans for an expansion, which would add a sculpture garden, new classrooms and a new gallery space. With no debt, the non-profit could easily get a loan for the construction; however, Owen remains cautious.

“We have to look at what it will cost to maintain the building once it’s completed,” Owen said. “We’re looking for enough support to do that. Hopefully, somebody out there sees the importance of what we’re doing and help us out.”

Meanwhile, the work continues. This month, a new artist, Jeffrey Holcomb, is showing his work in the downtown gallery. Upstairs, where stained-glass windows cast light on the art on display, Nora Ruth Hall is showing her work in pastels.

“We like to give new artists a chance at shows,” Owen said. “And we like to have established artists like Nora. It’s a jewel of a place here, and once the library opens it will be the cultural hub of Van Buren.”