I often catch myself saying, "I have two jobs.  One that feeds my belly and another that feeds my heart."  I have worked in the legal field for over 4 years now, and I have really enjoyed my positions as a court reporter and as support staff in the local court house.  I love the work, I'm grateful for a good job, and I appreciate the people that I work with.  That's the job that puts groceries on the table.  

Owning and operating the Village Arts Center is my other job.  As of this morning, we've officially been open for 6 months.  How exciting!  I have met the most kind, thoughtful, creative, talented, inspirational people since our open house event on July 30, 2016.  Whether people have visited as instructors, students, curious community members, musicians, or guests, they have FILLED the old house at 141 South Main Street in Broadway with laughter, joy, and love.   It has become a place where people can try new things, make something amazing, share their skills, chat about their ideas, support their community, and create happy memories.  THIS is the job that feeds my HEART.

It may be cold and windy outside, but it’s warm and cozy inside the VAC.  February will be a month long celebration of warmth, peace and LOVE. It's the perfect place to take a little break from the internet, from the news, politics and hectic schedules. A visit to the VAC is like a little vacation from your busy world without having to pack or make travel arrangements or board your pets. I’ve tried to load the whole calendar with opportunities to make happy memories and celebrate the people that bring you joy.  Whether you attend an event by yourself, with a friend, or with your whole family, it is my sincere hope that you will make plans to visit the Village Arts Center soon.  Come and see what people are talking about. 
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I'll be so happy to see you!

Process Art invitations encourage small and large motor skills, verbal and vocabulary skills, academic concepts such as science, math, geometry, understanding of cause & effect, social skills such as sharing and taking turns, discovery and exploration, sensory exploration and familiarity, and of course ... CREATIVITY! And the best part is that your little one will be learning all of these amazing things while they are PLAYING!

Why is it called PROCESS ART?  The answer is simple:  The focus is not on the end result, it is on the experience they have.  The concept is easy:  Provide a variety of materials.  Offer a few very simple instructions.  Invite the artist to explore the materials and make their own discoveries.  

And why is THAT such a big deal?  Imagine that you went to an art class and you were told to draw a giraffe.  Would you be excited or intimidated?  Would you feel nervous or relaxed?  I can tell you right now that I would be a anxious.  I'd worry that I can't remember exactly what a giraffe looks like.  I would be concerned that my project wouldn't be as good as the others.  I would worry about how my teacher would act if I didn't follow directions exactly, or if I wanted to try something different, or I couldn't do what was expected of me.  I might not even really KNOW what was expected of me.  I would probably be frustrated quickly and not so interested in going back to art class.  

The situation would be entirely different though if I went to an art class and was told that we were going to be working with ripped paper and glue.  I would be curious if there was an invitation to select the colors that I'd like to work with, to explore the textures of the different papers, to enjoy ripping or cutting them up, and to participate in a conversation about the materials we were using.  I wouldn't have any pressure to make something 'good enough'.  I could make my own decisions about whether I wanted to use tiny pieces of paper or large ones.  Would I like to pile them on top of each other or arrange them carefully without touching each other.  I could play with the glue and be as messy or as tidy as I like.  Someone at the table may be inspired to make a giraffe.  Someone else might make a robot.  And I might simply enjoy piling the colors together or arranging them in a pattern.  

No matter what the end result looked like, everyone in the class would have had opportunities to talk about colors and shapes and sizes.  We would have been encouraged to take turns, to interact with other people in the room, to develop fine and large motor skills, to explore the idea of cause and effect,  to consider spacial awareness, and to reinforce academic concepts such as geometry, color recognition and science.  We could have had the opportunity to make a mess, and to revel in it or to cope with it.  ALL THIS AMAZING LEARNING TAKES PLACE while we were playing with paper!  No pressure.  No competition.  No stress.  And while the focus is not on the end result, projects that go home are usually fantastic!

THAT is why it's a big deal.  

The Village Arts Center makes every effort to offer programs and experiences that are accessible to everyone who would like to visit. We also understand that for many families, there is nothing left over for 'extras' after the bills are paid. (Or more often then we like to imagine, there isn't enough to pay the bills to begin with.)  That is why we try to schedule "low cost" and "free" events for everyone to enjoy each month. It is also VERY exciting to be able to offer a variety of scholarship options.

We are so grateful to our generous patrons who have made it possible for some of our neighbors to attend events at the VAC.  

If you would like to give the gifts of creativity, relaxation, joy, and education to a member of the community who would not be able to attend without your financial assistance, we invite you to contact us to learn more about how you can contribute to the Village Arts Center Scholarship Fund.
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Thank you for your support!

I love the start of something new.  January 1 is one of my favorite days of the year.  This holiday invites us to celebrate what went well last year, to consider what didn't work out the way we hoped it would, and to make changes accordingly.  

Last year, I had this neat little idea to open an arts center in Broadway.  I wasn't sure how it would work, or if I could find a building that I could afford, or if people would come, or if I could juggle all of my other responsibilities.  The idea just wouldn't go away though.  It followed me everywhere.  I told my aunt about it, and she gave me a book.  "What Do You Do With An Idea" by It brought tears to my eyes and courage to my heart.   

Six months later, I am amazed and grateful and excited to announce that the Village Arts Center is alive and well.  We have taught people how to knit, crochet,  make jewelry, quill, make fresh wreaths, paint, sculpt, play an instrument, and draw.  We have hosted famliy movie nights, field trips, live concerts, private events, charity fundraisers, and holiday parties.  We have made so many wonderful friends and met so many fascinating people!  

I have also learned a bunch about owning a business.  I have often joked that the 'Welcome" kit you get at the town office when you apply for your business license should come a bottle of rolaids, a box of wine, a gift certificate to the local massage therapist, and a "You Can Do It!" plaque.   There is so much to do!  I wouldn't say that I'm anywhere close to having it all figured out, but I'm making strides toward learning all I can about advertising, scheduling, lesson planning, events coordinating, facilities maintenance, human resources, customer service, accounting, communication and community development.  I've made some real progress, but I've also dropped the ball more times that I can want to recall.  Thankfully, those are all opportunities to learn and improve.  I'm always so grateful for feedback from our guests and instructors.  I'm going to work harder to advertise and spread the word about the arts center.  I'm going to organize events and distribute newsletters & monthly calendars more efficiently.  I'm determined to find a wonderful guitar instructor.  I'm also going to try to delegate and  ask for help.  (Raise your hand if you think that is the hardest lesson of them all!)  *Did you just raise your hand? Where ever you happen to be right now?  Even if it was only shoulder high? I hope so.  :) 

I am very excited about opening the other half of the building and adding a culinary classroom, an art gallery, a second music studio, a main floor bathroom, an art garden, and an events venue!  There are lots of renovations that need to be completed before we can move in, so stay tuned for updates as Spring approaches!  For now, our calendar for the coming year is already packed with new classes and events for children, adults, and families to enjoy.   In addition to our regular classes, we are  going to begin offering birthday parties, private group classes, gardening workshops, team building projects and open mic nights!

I hope that you will take a moment to look at our most recent calendar and newsletter, and then stop by and visit some time.  The new Winter schedule begins today, and we will be open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  (Friday afternoons are available by appointment.)  Whenever the red "OPEN" flag is hanging outside, we're probably there!   If there is something you would like to learn, or something you would like to teach, I'd love to hear from you!  If you would like to stop by and say hello and look around, that's great too!  There is always something to learn, a clean mug, hot water, a variety of teas, a book to read, and a warm place to rest.  

Thanks for sharing a little bit of your day with me.  Happy New Year!

Dawn