To support young artists in our community, the Marion Art Center has created a new Young Artist program in collaboration with local high schools. The MAC developed the YA program with input and advice from community arts educators with the goal of encouraging student artists and offering them resources for creating and exhibiting their art.
The MAC’s YA program features: A continuing online student art exhibit on the MAC website, currently “Finding and Creating Culture in a Cup” by Old Rochester Regional High School students and “The Distance Experience” by Tabor Academy students; rotating student artworks on display at the MAC in a dedicated location on-site; a student art exhibit in the MAC galleries in early 2021; free time for student artists to work in the MAC studio; a mentor program that pairs professional artists with young artists, offering connection and perspective not only about creating art, but also about what It means to work as an artist; Emerging Artist Labs, hands-on workshops on topics such as installing an exhibit; small group tours of MAC exhibits led by our executive director and/or exhibiting artists; a MAC student membership for students ages 14-22 with full MAC member benefits at the discounted price of $25.
According to Jennifer Wolfe Webb, president of the MAC Board of Directors, “Our YA program is a way to offer student artists an expanded community of support during the pandemic and beyond it. We hope to make a meaningful difference in the trajectories of young artists.” The response from local arts educators has been an enthusiastic thumbs up. Joanne Mogilnicki, an educator at Old Rochester Regional High School, commented “I am so very excited that we have started this collaboration… What a fantastic opportunity for our young artists.”
The MAC YA program will be ramping up this fall as students return to school, and some aspects of the program are already underway, announced MAC Executive Director, Jodi Stevens: “I’m currently communicating with a new MAC student member so that he can schedule MAC Studio time. He hopes to work on building his art portfolio for his college applications.”
For more information about the Young Artist program at the MAC, visit our website at marionartcenter.org/yap. The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion, MA. Hours and directions can be found online at marionartcenter.org. Contact the MAC by calling 508-748-1266 or by emailing info@marionartcenter.org.
More about the Marion Art Center: The Marion Art Center (the MAC) is a dynamic non-profit organization offering a broad range of cultural experiences both in our historic building and across the tri-town area. Our mission is to enrich the SouthCoast community by supporting and promoting a vibrant arts experience for all. The Marion Art Center is housed in a restored 1830 Universalist Church on the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets in Marion. There are two light-filled galleries, a beautifully refurbished theater that seats approximately 70, and a large studio workshop space. We recently expanded our footprint to include adjacent outdoor space with a patio. MAC programs include art exhibits, theater, music concerts, classes and workshops for children and adults, and a number of special events. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed “The Virtual MAC” to serve our community.