A diverse selection of after-school performing and visual arts classes awaits participants of the Youth ARTS Alive fall program. While classes officially began on Nov. 2, registration is still open for those who wish to join. The program is open to ages 8 through 18 and runs through Nov. 20 at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center in Santa Maria. Admission to each class is free, but availability is limited.
Since its inception in 2017, Youth ARTS Alive has aimed to provide free arts education for local youth, under the direction of founder Gale McNeeley. While a virtual iteration of the program was considered for its fall term, organizers ultimately decided to retain the in-person aspect, with all classes held outdoors and other protocols implemented to comply with public safety guidelines.
“We think a major benefit is that it’s an opportunity for kids to be outside when so many of their activities are online right now,” Sarah Raines, program coordinator of Youth ARTS Alive, told the Sun. “We have considered online classes, but many of the students our program is designed to serve do not have reliable internet access.”
The summer program marked Raines’ first outing as program coordinator for Youth ARTS Alive, a role she uses to not only organize the department’s classes but also to lobby city government, local businesses, and schools to provide more funds for public art and arts education. And similar to the program’s summer term, social distancing will be accommodated, and face masks will be required at all times, Raines explained.Â
“Just like this summer, we are holding classes outdoors for maximum ventilation,” Raines said. “All involved—students, teachers, parents, staff, volunteers, and interns—will be required to wear a mask. Youth ARTS Alive will provide masks for any who forget to bring them.”
Hand sanitizer will also be available on site to students during each class, Raines added. Other safety protocols include limiting restroom access to one person at a time.Â
Instructors of the November program include former Sun Managing Editor Joe Payne, who teaches guitar and ukulele classes, and local thespians Ksa Curry and Jana Price, who teach theater and dance, respectively. Other Youth ARTS Alive faculty members include dance instructor Anita Tubbs and drumming instructor Sean Sullivan.
“Drumming is especially popular; it is so fun to watch the kids having a blast making loud rhythms. I am thrilled about all the classes we have offered,” Raines said. “They [the instructors] make their classes fun and incorporate performance skills with the kids.”Â
Plans are already underway for the Youth ARTS Alive program’s spring term, and more details on spring classes will be announced once funding is secured, Raines said. One offering already on the spring lineup is a class on the creation of public art and murals, hosted by local artist and mentor Ruben Espinoza.Â
“Ruben is very creative, but also very professional and engaging with the students,” Raines said. “His class during our summer program was an abstract take on the self-portrait. The students had a lot of fun exploring that project.”
Send your abstract takes and hot takes to Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 5-12, 2020.
