STEAM on WHEELS set for Saturday

The FMAAA Art Center at 825 Ave G in Fort Madison is focusing on youth right now. It’s Budding Artist month in the Main Gallery. Another STEAM Day on January 27th brings back the popular STEAM on WHEELS. After school creative time resumes soon for Fort Madison students who attend Beyond the Bell and Brain Teasers. The FMAAA has a variety of youth classes planned for all ages and abilities for the coming year at the Art Center including during the afternoons of early outs days. Creative opportunity for youth spans a variety of interest levels from developing fine arts skills, to participating in creative focus and expression, to enhanced problem solving associated with techy design concepts. 
The Budding Artist exhibition, sponsored by Two Rivers Bank & Trust of artwork from ages K through 7th grade is on display through Saturday, January 27.  This annual month-long showcase of local student work is a favorite for the Art Center and families alike. We are so fortunate to have area elementary and middle school Art instructors who do such an excellent job supporting the creative development of youth. They develop a seemingly never-ending variety of projects with plenty of room for personal interpretation and expression. The instructors regularly save pieces to share during this exhibition showcasing amazingly clever and well executed student work. Each instructor has their own process to collect representative examples to share from throughout the school year (and across years in some cases, with winter and spring items generated in one year often combined with work from the current fall classes.) Sometimes it’s a few pieces from many projects, or an ongoing one like the 3rd grade level  trading cards, so that as many students as possible in each grade can be represented. 
Opportunities for youth to explore their creative side now regularly occur on Saturdays and after school. Even an impromptu afternoon to “Beat the Winter Blues” in the studio was offered earlier this week for kids (and their caregivers) looking for something to do after several bitterly cold snow days. Family Days for littles accompanied by an adult provide some structured creative time. STEAM Days are designed to spark the imaginations of young people as they explore the intersections of design and technology. Many careers have their origins in good design. Samuel McCullum, the founder of STEAM on Wheels, makes it a point to describe how skills and really fun concepts he introduces can be extended into future opportunities or careers. STEAM Day on Saturday, January 27 once again brings back 3D Pen Printing, this time with a focus on designing 3D objects. Tetras Puzzles and Marble Mazes will tackle engineering and design concepts with team building built in. And an intro to Lazer Cutting workshop is available for ages 13 and up.
Developing regular programming, beyond summer Art Camp, was a priority for Director, Lori Illner Greene when she took over in May of 2021. Artists, volunteers, and arts instructors worked with her during the past two years to develop a fledgling number of classes. It was a start. But the last half of 2023 finally began to see real momentum. An improved website offering online registration along with dedicated staffing to organize the classes has been game changing for the Art Center. As are grants that have dedicated specific resources to support youth programming including VISTA (part of AmeriCorps), Lee County Youth Services, North Lee Community Foundation, Lee County Charitable Fund, and the Elks Lodge BPOE 374, along with donations from a variety of individuals and local businesses. 
Being designated a VISTA project site in 2023 allowed the FMAAA to recruit a VISTA Member Volunteer who in the capacity of Program Director provides dedicated focus to develop programs geared towards youth at both the Art Center and in collaboration with school programs, Beyond the Bell and Brain Teasers. FMAAA affiliated artists or local art instructors provide onsite creative time to youth participating in those programs and in classes held at the Art Center. There are still plenty of options for kids who just drop-in including Creative Carts and ceramics glazing. Both of these activities provide self-directed activities that youth can engage with at their own pace. The Creative Carts have been a real hit with the many kids who come by the Art Center on their own. The supplies on the carts, provided by the generous support of Lee County Youth Services, are free for the kids to use. Sometimes just being able to just hang out has provided a sense of connection and belonging for these young people. 
While many improvements continue to be made at the FMAAA Art Center and in the programs they provide for the benefit of the community and to support local artists, building community awareness of all that is going on remains challenging. The Art Center participates in the Kid’s Carnival, Downtown and Farmer’s Markets, and other community wide events that crop up like the Fort Picnic. Do you know a child that loves to draw, paint, or build things? Maybe consider signing them up for drawing or one of the new pottery classes for kids. More information can be found at fortmadisonart.com, or to keep up with newly added events and classes find the FMAAA Art Center on FaceBook or Instagram.