City ArtWorks Celebrates 35 Years

In the early 1980s, budgets were cut on public education throughout the country. When the budget is cut, withdrawing important elements in our children' education is soon to follow. It has been a pattern that plays out across our country every few years. Budgets get cut, classes get cut, education gets cut and soon there is no art, no music, no physical education and we find the education of our children is down to bare bones and not quite adequate. Children need a well-rounded educations in a variety of subjects in order to thrive in this world, and one of the most important element is creativity. Hands on art classes are essential in the development of children. Hand eye coordination, critical thinking, and historical study are just some of the benefits visual arts practices have when educating. A group of teachers recognized this and didn't just complain but decided to do something. They saw an opportunity to allow kids to learn visual art in an after-school program and thus formed City Artworks.

City Artworks is now one of Houston's premier after-school programs for the visual arts, serving children pre-K to 6^th grade.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with the executive director of City ArtWorks, Margaret Bott. Margaret told me about their various programs for youngsters in the greater metro area, including Art After School for K-6 grades, Start Smart (Pre-K) and Sculpture & Clay programs.  These programs are conducted at schools, apartment complexes, and other facilities. City Artworks also features art camps during times when children are out of school at their Spring Branch facility – winter, spring and summer breaks.

Margaret explained that the lesson plans are written by a team of artists and art teachers with the guidance of a program coordinator. Each lesson focuses on a famous artist, generally one whose work can be found in one of several museums in Houston. Then the children use some element from the famous artist to be inspired and create their own art-piece using some element from the lesson learned about the renown artist.

City Artworks can be found in over 50 locations within the greater Houston area. They employ 35+ artists, as well as an office staff.

If you want more information about City ArtWorks, to sign your child up for a class, more information on becoming an instructor or would just like to make a donation to an awesome local 501(c)3 organization, see www.cityartworks.org.