Into its third year on Lanai, and year two on the island of Oahu, VSA arts after school children’s art classes give students K-6, at-risk and with and without disabilities, the chance to enhance their artistic skills in drawing, painting, weaving, ceramics, and poetry and jewelry making. Students are mentors by practicing artist-educators with and without disabilities are employed part-time as a gateway to career development. This program is open to young artists from elementary schools throughout the island of Oahu, with a soon to be launched program in Hilo, on the big island.
Aside from adding a whole new dimension to the art education experience for Hawai‘i’s youth, classes are taught by professional artists with disabilities as a way of encouraging them to enhance their own experiences, grow as educators, gain exposure to entrepreneurial opportunities, and give back to the community. This partnership project also allows some of our adult students to gain exposure to, and earn an income through, teaching by allowing them to assist the master artists in the classroom.
After School Arts Sites
- Honoka'a
- Lanai
- Pahoa
- Pearl City