The Averitt Center for the Arts has so many great programs. I may be biased, but the Visual Arts program is my favorite! From 5-year-olds to 75-year-olds, we offer classes that anyone can be a part of.
There have been several studies that show visual art positively influencing the moods of students, young and old. Art offers students the opportunity to creatively express themselves, helps reduce stress, and creates a sense of community with others.
The Visual Arts community at The Averitt Center for the Arts is always uplifting. Anna Brady, an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading is one of our adult students in the visual arts program. She attested to her experience taking some of the various classes that we offer.
“The community that Kimberly Riner and other visual arts teachers have created within the Roxie Remley is unparalleled — joy is infused into every class session. The visual arts classes provide a supportive space for beginning and advanced artists to develop artistic skills and tune in to their creativity. The student-centered environment allows beginning artists to develop new artistic skills, while more advanced artists are able to build onto existing artistic skills,” she said.
Our visual arts programs are a place where people with many different backgrounds and social circles can learn and enhance their skills, or even just have a place where they are able to do what they love.
Visual arts not only benefits adults, but it is also more than something to “keep children occupied.” Various studies have proven children and teens involved in the arts have improved academic achievements and behaviors, and it allows them to have a sense of belonging, which brings happiness. Our classes also give children the opportunity to meet new people and find a skill and hobby that will stick with them the rest of their lives.
Children can learn and enjoy the arts with their friends at the after school program at the Averitt Center, Art Adventures.
“I like making new friends, and painting and clay are my favorite things to do at the Roxie,” Kailee Marshall, a first-grader in Art Adventures shared.
You’re never too young or too old to enhance and explore your creativity. The Averitt Center has more than 15 programs and classes to give both participants of all ages the creative escape they need.
Our diverse range of courses include a variety of media each day of the week. Each class is unique and small in size, giving our students the time and attention they need to focus on growing as individual artists. Projects are fun and creative, taught by accomplished artists and teachers from our community. Weekly classes are offered in eight-week sessions from August to May.
Our classes and workshops wouldn’t exist without our fabulous instructors who each have a deep background in visual arts. The instructors make each class a fun and relaxing way to get creative juices flowing, while teaching students the skills and knowledge they need to become better artists.
Just to highlight a few, our KidsShop Studio offers 5- to 10- year-olds the chance to experience a variety of media including sculpture, painting, drawing and more, emphasizing fun, creativity and self-expression.
We offer Hand Building in Clay and Wheel Throwing classes for both youth and adults. These sessions provide students the chance to make beautiful creations through the medium of clay (my favorite!). Our beginner classes teach the various techniques of ceramics while creating unique art pieces, while our more advanced classes focus on furthering pottery skills, giving one-on-one attention to help them develop as artists even further.
For students interested in other mediums, we also offer classes for painting, drawing, and even collaging. Our Collage with Purpose class is designed for beginners to discover storytelling through image-sourcing, while learning a variety of collage techniques. Drawing and painting classes encourage students to let their own creativity guide them while learning about different materials, techniques, and even some art history.
Rock Band is another exciting course that combines music and visual art, allowing students ages 11 to 18 to learn and play music together, develop music making skills, and incorporate art to accompany their music. Students can play instruments they are already familiar with or explore new instruments in this exciting course that adapts the content to suit the needs of the class.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to further your already-adapted skill there is a class for you here at the Averitt Center. Don’t let lack of skills or knowledge hold you back from these fun classes to further your artistic abilities.
Workshops are also offered for those who just want to dip their toes in to see what they like, or don’t have the time to commit to a course yet. These workshops can help you find what you like — give clay a spin, try your hand at painting, or find something else you love. We want to give participants the confidence to get involved!
The Visual Arts program, as you can see, consists of so many different fields for our community to learn, expand, and enjoy getting creative. Our courses may end in May, but that doesn’t stop us from providing the creative breaks throughout the summer. Each summer we have a variety of camps which provide fun opportunities weekly for students to keep up their skills and have tons of fun with their friends.
Twice a year, the Averitt partners with local artists and Georgia Southern art students to display their one-of-a-kind pieces at our All Fired Up sale. The Roxie Remley is filled with a various artworks including paintings, drawings, jewelry, ceramics, crocheted pieces, and so much more. This year’s sale runs through Dec. 3, just in time to find a perfect gift for the holidays.
Visual art in our community is such a necessity for any age. It brings joy, creativity, belonging, and so much more. For more information, go online at averittcenterforthearts.org.