Deep in the heartland of the United States, nestled between four magnificent Great Lakes, lies the enchanting state of Michigan. This state, shaped like a mitten, is a magical land filled with laughing lakes, frolicking forests, and the most peculiar kids you could ever hope to meet. These kids aren't just ordinary kids, oh no! They're special, gifted with an extraordinary passion for Visual Arts. They splash colors around with the freedom of wild mustangs, creating masterpieces that would put the Mona Lisa to blush. Our story begins with a quirky, cool character named Doodle-McNoodle, who is as eccentric as his name. Doodle-McNoodle isn't your typical Michigan kiddo; he's got paint-stained overalls, a hat decorated with dried-up brushes, and a laugh that sounds like a hiccuping hyena. Doodle-McNoodle and his gang of artistic misfits are the heart and soul of Michigan's Visual Arts scene. They create mind-boggling murals, dreamy drawings, and sculptures that even the pigeons mistake for real people. These kids could turn a gloomy day into a vibrant painting that bursts with life, laughter, and lots of noodle-shaped clouds (Doodle-McNoodle's signature touch, of course!). You see, in Michigan, these kids don't just create art; they live it! They breathe in inspiration from the state's beautiful landscapes, from the cherries of Traverse City to the towering lighthouses of Lake Michigan. Then, with a wild twinkle in their eyes and a riot of colors at their fingertips, they transform this inspiration into art that tells the story of Michigan in the most magical way. So, if you ever find yourself wandering through this mitten-shaped wonderland, look around. You might just spot a kid with paint-stained fingers and a twinkle in their eye, ready to create the next Michigan masterpiece.
Read morebest visual-arts programs in Flint, MI
What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
The FIA is passionate about making art available, approachable, and accessible to everyone. To do so, they offer a wide variety of interpretive programs. Guided tours, lectures, and community dialogues are among the programs available to help people connect with the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Art classes, workshops, and studio demonstrations offered by the FIA provide an opportunity for hands-on learning. There are also various gallery, studio, and outreach programs designed for PreK-12, Head Start, and homeschool students. In addition, the FIA offers films and videos, print, audio, and multimedia resources to enrich the experience. The FIA is dedicated to making art accessible to everyone and provides many programs and resources to help facilitate this goal. Through its interpretive programs, the FIA is striving to bring art to the lives of all.
We are committed to increasing awareness of the vast number of artistic/cultural offerings in our area and providing education opportunities to all members of the community, from children to adults. We also strive to foster a positive image of the greater Flint community by showcasing Flint’s beauty and livability to the nation. Our programs and services are designed to get the community involved in the creative process and to develop sustainability in arts agencies throughout Genesee County and bordering communities. We have also made it our mission to help create new programs and new careers in the arts to promote the growth of the local economy. The Greater Flint Arts Council is dedicated to making our community a vibrant place to live and work by engaging the community in creative processes, supporting Michigan artists, and providing education opportunities to all members of the community. We are committed to increasing awareness of the many artistic/cultural offerings in our area, developing sustainability in arts agencies, creating new programs and new careers in the arts, and showcasing Flint’s beauty and livability to the nation.