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Opportunity houseOPPORTUNITY HOUSE ART PROGRAM
Opportunity House is a community outreach program for under-served elementary-school age children in Avondale, AZ. There is no charge to the students and it is staffed by volunteers. It began eleven years ago as an after-school tutoring program. Each art class is a different medium and subject, and each is led by a different teacher, many of whom are professionals in their fields. Whatever materials are needed by the teacher are purchased and prepared for the scheduled class. There are six classes during the summer, and the classes are limited to 20 to 25 children. These art supplies are also used during the school year for the after-school art program at Opportunity House. During the summer, once a week for six weeks in June and July, there is an art session led by a volunteer artist who shares her/his art expertise with up to twenty kids. At the end of the summer sessions, all of the children’s artwork is hung for an exhibit to which parents and friends are invited. Nancy Hampton, the founder, says, “My philosophy for the Opportunity House art program is that in each class, each child can create his or her own masterpiece. There is no 'coloring between the lines.’ No matter what the final results look like, or whether the child used the correct techniques, or if the art doesn’t look anything like it is supposed to, it is the child’s own creation. It is the most important thing they have done today, and something of which they are very proud. They love to talk about their art piece and how they created it. "Their self-esteem soars and they have learned something.” |
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