Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Young Artists Collective?The Young Artists Collective is a weekly after-school art program for kids in grades K-5 in Olympia, WA. We created it in response to the loss of elementary art programming in our local schools and to give kids a place where creativity, experimentation, and original thinking are encouraged.
Throughout the year, young artists will explore different materials, learn about artists and art movements, build creative confidence, and develop a portfolio of work all leading up to an end-of-year art show!
WHEN AND WHERE DO CLASSES MEET?
Classes meet once a week on Tuesdays from 4:00–5:30 PM, September through June.
We meet in the Doodle Girls workshop inside the Oly Creative Co-Op in downtown Olympia. Our studio is a working creative space shared with local artists, giving kids the opportunity to experience what it feels like to make art in a real artist community.
Address: 112 Fourth Ave SE. The entrance is right between McMenamins restaurant and the Guitar shop.
DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE "GOOD AT ART"?Absolutely not! In fact, we try not to focus on being “good” at art at all.
The Young Artists Collective is about curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and learning to trust your own ideas. Kids are encouraged to experiment, make mistakes, change their minds, and create work that looks completely different from everyone else's.
There is no “right” finished product here.
WhaT WILL MY CHILD ACTUALLY LEARN?A little bit of everything! Throughout the year we'll explore drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage, fiber arts, mixed media, and more.
We'll also learn about artists from different time periods, cultures, backgrounds, and artistic styles. Rather than simply copying an artist's work, we'll use what we learn as inspiration for our own ideas.
Our biggest goal is for kids to leave the studio feeling more confident saying, “I have an idea. I want to try it.”
DO I NEED TO BUY ART SUPPLIES?Nope! Art supplies are included.
I want kids to have the chance to work with real, quality art materials without families needing to purchase a new supply list for every project. The studio provides the materials we'll use during our weekly sessions.
Fair warning: your child may come home with paint on their hands from time to time. Please send them in clothes that can handle a little creativity! Aprons will also be provided.
What makes THIS DIFferent FROM A TYPICAL CRAFT CLASS?We aren't trying to make 12 identical projects.
While I'll introduce techniques, materials, artists, and creative prompts, students will have room to make their own choices about their artwork. One child's piece might look completely different from the kid sitting next to them, and that's exactly what we want.
Especially in a world where technology can generate an image or an idea in seconds, I believe kids need spaces where they're still asked to wonder, experiment, problem-solve, use their hands, and figure out what they think.
The Young Artists Collective is a place to practice exactly that.