Arts Place is an outreach ministry founded in 1998 and funded by The Thomas S. Foster Endowment for Christianity and the Fine Arts given to the church by Ellen Foster. Arts Place is an after-school program designed to provide enriching arts experiences for third and fourth grade students attending Irving Primary School. The students meet on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., October through April. Our goals for the students are to: Grow in knowledge and language of the arts. Develop greater appreciation for the arts Improve art production skills. Increase problem solving skills and self-confidence by creatively handling arts materials. Make lasting friendships with other Arts Place participants. Have fun while learning and achieving creative success. Experience Christ though our relationships.

The children enjoy instruction in various disciplines such as cooking, ceramics, painting and sculpture as well as drama and writing. We create an environment where the creativity of the students can flourish while they are learning and building confidence.

In order to help keep focus on the projects and keep distractions to a minimum, students meet on either Tuesday or Thursday, depending upon the group to which they are assigned. Two small groups meet each afternoon. This allows us to complete more elaborate projects, like the mural in the elevator entry of the church.

As some of the volunteers who donate their time will tell you, volunteering at Arts Place does not require knowledge or expertise in the field of fine arts. It is our intent that the students not only learn about and gain confidence through the arts, but also develop healthy relationships and problem solving skills with each other and with their teachers at Arts Place and Irving Primary School

The primary qualifications for volunteers are to represent Christ and be able to love and nurture the students who come. Projects will be planned in advance, whether they are field trips or learning from a guest teacher, so there is no pressure to "entertain" the students.

To access the Arts Place website, click here.

Contacts:
Samantha Schurter at 673-3641 ext 707
Rev. Steve Pichaske at 673-3641 ext 118