The Hays Arts Council will once again offer summer art classes to area youth, with classes scheduled through June and July.
“We've got our theater class starting the first week in June,” Brenda Meder, executive director, said. “They'll culminate after two weeks with a performance, plenty of room in those classes yet, and those are the only theater classes we're offering for that age group.”
Two Acting and the Theater sessions are for ages 8-11 and 11-14 and will run June 5-8 and June 12-16, kicking off the classes.
“So, if you're interested in your young person, especially those that have just come out of Famous Figures, those are a few of them, who we've seen signing up for this, please check into that,” Meder said.
Another performance-based class is set for July 10-13; however, registration for Acting It Out has already been filled, according to the council’s website.
But various artistic disciplines will follow, with classes featuring visual arts, fashion and more.
“Some things that will be more, sort of art education lessons, some things that'll just be the free expression of arts and crafts and having the opportunity to just paint or just create or just get your hands into the paper mâché or whatever it might be, but a good variety of those things,” Meder said.
Those classes run from one-day sessions to a series of days.
“We've got several sessions of a two-hour a day, to two-day workshops, two hours a day,” Meder said. “We know that in the times that we're in now, kids are very mobile in the summer. And they don't always have big periods to commit to a week or two weeklong class, or they come and visit grandma and grandpa or their cousins for short periods of time. So, we threw those in.
“It's just a great way to get lots of arts and crafts fun and not just be in and out real fast. And they're not drop-ins, they are scheduled organized classes.”
Students will learn more than just painting basics in the scheduled painting classes.
“Instead of just learning all that sort of traditional sort of clean and very representational methods, (we will be) playing around with some unusual painting forms…so they're going to get a little art history, or the very kind of unencumbered style of like Pollock with the paint and doing some of those different kinds of projects and styles of painting.”
The annual favorite Call of the Wild class is also set to return, allowing participants to learn about animals with hands on experiences from the collection at Sternberg Museum and use that as a basis for artistic endeavors.
And around the Fourth of July, patriotism will be on display.
“We've got a one-day class right before the Fourth of July called Red, White and Blue,” Meder said. “So, anybody that's in town that Monday, visiting family, or is here, it's a great class to just go let's plug something in for that little bridge between Tuesday's Fourth of July activities, our Paper Doll Fashion Fun class again, which is the coolest thing.
To engage as many students as possible, Meder said the council works to keep costs low.
“There are no extra taxes, there are no extra supplies, we want to be able to pay our instructors, something that's at least not disrespectful, but nobody's getting rich on these,” Meder said.
Costs run from $11-$39.
Supplies are also provided.
“We want them to work with decent quality materials, depending on what the class is,” Meder said. “So, we have a lot of behind-the-scenes expenses, but we keep the classes very affordable and decently sized.
“And so it's a really good experience. And it's not just drop-in, and it's not glorified babysitting. There really are planned, detailed, organized projects within the idea that the kids will be kids ..."
The schedule, class availability and registration form are on the Hays Arts Council’s website.
Summer Art Walk
Along with the Summer Arts Classes, the council is preparing for the upcoming Summer Art Walk, set for June 16.
“That one will be on a Friday night, it will be at least a three-hour Artwalk,” Meder said. “I'm already getting emails and information from folks who want to be on the Artwalk.”
“If you want to be on the Arts Council as a location, as an artist who says I've always wanted to set up for something like that, there is no fee. It's not a difficult process. We can even help if you need easels and pedestals or whether tabletop or standing. We can even assist with things like that.”
She said she can also help artists contact area businesses that want to participate.
The Hays Young Professionals are again planning activities in the downtown pavilion to accompany the event, she said.
“Get in touch with me within the next couple of weeks if it's something you want to participate in. If not, just keep watching so that you won't miss the fun when that one gets closer,” Meder said.
The Hays Arts Council can be reached at 785-625-7522. You can also follow the council on Facebook.