WHAT
WE DO
OUR MISSION.
To provide comprehensive arts education to scholarship students and underfunded communities.
Our immediate goals:
*provide free art classes to senior citizens
​*provide more scholarships to lower income families for after school and summer camp education
What we do
Our team of artists and teachers educate in the following disciplines: painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, fibers, and digital arts. Our curriculum focuses on student-led and student-choice centered art making, with guidance from qualified individuals. We are dedicated to our mission of fostering a creative, functional, and inclusive education model that teaches art foundations.
Our Goal
Our goal is to lower barriers to art making and provide accessible arts education. We teach art because it's our passion and to build community; flexibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of our community. We think all children and adults should have access to art classes.
What's Happening
In the first quarter of 2023, Slowfire Arts Foundation has awarded 27 scholarships to students in need of free or reduced art education. Each recipient has been enrolled in one or more 7 week long classes in the following: Wheel Throwing, Painting and Drawing, Senior Painting and Drawing, and Early Childhood Enrichment.
Our scholarship students range in age from 3 to 80.
Slowfire Arts Foundation has sponsored 12 (free to the community) painting and drawing classes for ages 65+ at the Oak Park and River Forest Township Senior Services. Ms. Joss teaches these classes every Wednesday after the seniors enjoy lunch.
We will also be offering a series of art education workshops at the Oak Park Public Library in June for seniors.
ART CHANGES LIVES.
Testimonials
"My daughter has been attending the PKP weekday class and from her very first day I could tell she was going to enjoy her experience. She's a very artsy gal- oftentimes bringing home a number of crafts and projects so for her to have a structured class where she could continue to cultivate her creativity has been such a wonderful gift. I cannot express just how grateful I am to have found this class for her, and I'm so excited to watch her continue to enhance her understanding of the arts. I hope to continue to sign her up for more classes as she develops, she already told me she would like to stay in class even when she turns 5! Thank you so much to the whole Slowfire family!"
Kaitlin, Mom of Rooney, 4