Community Outreach

For over 50 years the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs has provided a cultural heart and identity to the community with programs of art and culture. The Center for the Arts provides arts enrichment and education to people of all ages. The following is a brief description of a number of our ongoing programs. As part of our mission the Center for the Arts provides to over 2,500 children:

After School Express

A program providing free art education activities to middle and elementary students 3pm-5pm at our Center for the Arts. The Center for the Arts is a safe environment for children after school. Children may read, do homework or participate in art making projects choreographed by artist volunteers with a different project each session.

Art Goes to School

Artist volunteers visit middle and elementary schools with free hour-long education programs. The first visit is focused on a particular artist, his or her art, history and culture. Students view large reproductions of the artist’s work and discuss the artist’s culture, artwork and history. The second visit provides an art project about the previous week’s artist’s work that challenges, engages and enlightens students, as well as connects the historical and cultural emphasis to the lectures and art activities. Over 1700 students participate.

Saturdays With Art

Two or three-hour classes during the school year that focus on a number of educational and artistic projects—painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, creative crafts are a few of the areas covered. Over 40% of our students receive over 40% scholarships.

Off Campus Collaborative Projects

The Center for the Arts collaborates with many other nonprofit organizations to help our community. For example, we regularly visit nearby neighborhood community centers, providing art related activities as apart of a team approach to literacy and English as a second language program. Our team, comprised of translators, tutors, and art volunteers work to create a learning environment that is not only educational, but fun!

Theater Workshop

Adults and children work together on a specific production. The cast participants make their own stage sets and costumes as well as focus on voice, self-confidence, working collaboratively, and poise in front of an audience. Two or three final, public performances are scheduled along with a cast party and refreshments. Over 80% of our students received over 40% scholarships.

Let’s Dance

Year round evening and Saturday classes focusing on ballet, modern, jazz and lyrical. Recitals provide students, family and friends with a spectacular experience. 40% of our students receive over 40% scholarships.

Student Showcase Exhibition

A juried gallery exhibition featuring artwork created by local high school students. This free, annual program includes a reception and scholarship awards presentation. Seniors receive college tuition scholarships. Juniors, sophomores and freshmen receive scholarships to classes at the Center for the Arts. Over 150 students participate.

Children’s Summer Camps

June, July and August--students can attend a half or full day. Art activities include sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, creative crafts, dance and theater. Over 45% of our students receive scholarships.

Arts Worldwide

Families participate at no charge in a day’s activities of visual and performing arts. The enjoyment of artistic creation can bring our community together, people of all ages. Activities include mural drawing, painting, puppet making; paper collage; creative puzzles; sculpture, 3D design and crafts; two puppet theaters with scheduled performances throughout the day; an opportunity for families to experience the delights of performance with their own creations; multi-cultural storytelling and creative writing sessions; a variety of musical performances from voice to musical instrument to a barbershop quartet; multi-cultural dance performances—ballet, jazz, lyrical; theater performances; moving sculpture; as well as professional visual artist demonstrations in a variety of media throughout the day. This program began over five years ago.

High School Mentor Program

Provides unique, advanced art experiences to local high school students at no charge. Working with faculty or visiting artists, students may collaborate on a large-scale project or participate in unique class experiences, such as Stone Carving Sculpture, providing insight into a process not accessible in their high school environment. Over 50 students participate each year.

Program Evaluation

We evaluate each segment of our programming upon completion not only from the standpoint of the success and sense of accomplishment children and their families’ experience; but our own success as a group committed to our community. We make recommendations for future growth as well as additional areas of focus to meet the growing needs of the children and their families.