Thursday, March 28, 2024

Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center Opens Registration for Spring Buddy Art

Buddy Art is a program from Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center that pairs volunteers from William & Mary with children with special needs for an afternoon of arts and crafts. (Courtesy Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center)
Buddy Art is a program from Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center that pairs volunteers from William & Mary with children with special needs for an afternoon of arts and crafts. (Courtesy Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center)

Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center is now accepting applications for Buddy Art’s Spring 2016 session.

The program, which provides art activities for kids with special needs and physical disabilities ages 7 and up, will take place on select Saturdays in January and February.

At each Buddy Art session volunteers from WCAC and the College of William & Mary’s Sharpe Community Scholars Program – a select group of freshmen who integrate community engagement and research with their academic studies – are paired with a child with special needs to aid them in completing arts and crafts projects.

Every session features five stations, each with a different type of art project or craft. In the past stations have included finger painting, clay, collage, drawing, tamping and easel painting.

Children can choose to spend all of their time at one station or try several different ones in the course of a session, depending on their interest and ability. Kids will work one-on-one with their assigned buddy, and each station will have an additional volunteer on hand to explain the activity and how to work with the materials.

Parents are welcome to work on the crafts with their children or just observe the class. Buddies will be assigned regardless of parents’ participation so the parent can enjoy the activity and not have to worry about managing materials and setup.

This spring’s Buddy Art sessions will take place on Jan. 23 and 30 and February 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the James City County Recreation Center.

This is a free program and interested parties can register here. There is no deadline for registration but spots fill up quickly.

Anyone wishing to volunteer for Buddy Art or donate art supplies should call 757-229-4949 or email Karen Schwartz, Buddy Art coordinator, at buddy.art@thiscenturyartgallery.org.

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