Thanks to a new and unique partnership, Glen Lake Middle School students will have the chance to take monthly art classes at Glen Arbor Arts Center (GAAC) for the next year.
GAAC is partnering with the local nonprofit youth program LIFT to offer these art classes made possible by a generous donation from the Glen Lake Women’s Club. Through the partnership, middle school students participating in LIFT have the opportunity to explore art forms in 12 separate art classes hosted by GAAC. The classes are held either at GAAC and Thoreson Farm locations, or other area sites. Anywhere from 8-12 students per month can attend a class with transportation covered by LIFT and art programming provided by GAAC.
“Thus far, the partnership has been an absolute joy. It’s always a fun experience to have programming days during the school year where we leave the building to go off-campus, so the monthly trips to the Arts Center were such special days,” said Emily Worden, LIFT program development director. “During the summertime, we’re able to be even more flexible with scheduling… To be able to not only consistently bring students to a space in their community to show them first-hand the people and activities available to them as supports, but then to be able to be immersed in the history and nature that makes our county so special — It’s been fantastic.”
About 15 kids have been participating in the new art program since it started in April and is slated to continue through April 2025 or until all 12 classes are fulfilled. Art subjects taught so far have included Gelli printing, Suminagashi marbling, charcoal drawing, and pottery wheel throwing. Each session is scheduled to run after school during the school year, with special scheduling during the summer months.
With the partnership available for at least the next year, the middle school students can learn about different concepts and artistic exploration in a nurturing environment. Even in the summertime when students are out of school, they can pursue creative learning with others who want to do the same. Worden explained that for many teens, summertime can mean isolation, a lack of consistency, missing time spent with friends, and more. Yearround access to art education, Worden continued, is “one of the key pieces in helping ensure that teens feel supported, creative, involved and proud of what they can do in a time of year that doesn’t always make them feel that way.”
“Oftentimes, the school year is when, and how, teens are exposed to new concepts. There is dedicated time, space and tools for them to try their hands at something new,” Worden said. “In the summertime, most of these learning opportunities go away. Offering art education year-round means that this gap no longer exists. Teens again have the time, space and tools provided to them to take a shot at something they may not have had access to, or interest in, otherwise. Art education encourages both creativity and emotional expression while at the same time teaching us to embrace our mistakes, and often turn them into something beautiful.”
According to a recent press release, GAAC and LIFT are hopeful to extend the partnership into the future and at other Leelanau school districts. Worden said LIFT Teen Center is always looking for new partnerships and ways to increase opportunities and support available to teens. They encourage anyone with an idea for a class, an activity, a field trip, a series, or any other ideas to reach out.
“We are so incredibly grateful to the Glen Lake Women’s Club and to Glen Arbor Arts Center for their time and generosity in allowing this partnership to take place, and we are grateful to all our other existing partners in the Leelanau County community and beyond who support our students and program in their own ways as well,” she said.
