Through partnership with local organizations, such as Blue Sky Community Services and Morning Star Behavioral Associates, the Arts Council is able to host Artism, an in-gallery art program for adults with disabilities.

We believe that when offering classes to underserved students, it is important for the teacher to be part of their community. Our Director, Kelly Downes, is a certified art educator so she worked closely with our dear friend and Arts Council member, Taylor Crowe, to build and teach the program in 2023.

Taylor is a painter, comic artist, and animator with autism. His artistic achievements include receiving a degree in animation from the California Institute of Technology, working as a comic artist for the Southeast Missourian, illustrating a children’s book titled Maybe That’s Autism, and showing monthly artwork as a Visual Arts Cooperative artist in our gallery. After the first sessions of Artism, we are thrilled that Taylor was able to add teacher to his already impressive resume!

What Do Students Learn?
Since our students have different ability levels, we make sure to provide classwork that can be enriching to everyone. So far, students have learned color mixing, painting with acrylic, collage making, etching and carving ceramic tiles, and more! While learning new artistic practices, students are also able to work on their motor skills. Cutting images with scissors and painting within the lines of a design are just two examples of fine motor skill enrichment that can take place during an art class.

Students also learn that their disability does not define them as a creative. Having positive role models, such as Taylor, as their instructors helps students see that they are able to achieve their dreams with hard work and dedication. We wholeheartedly believe in the power of art and creative problem-solving and know that these students have the potential to do great things in our community.