Des Moines Art Center Spring Classes Welcome Students - From Wherever They Are!

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Des Moines Art Center Studio team has been hard at work turning the Art Center’s popular, in-person studio art classes into virtual experiences students can enjoy from the safety and comfort of home.

Virtual class offerings began in spring/summer 2020, while the Art Center was still physically closed in response to COVID-19. For some, including 7-year-old Wade, a virtual class was his first studio art experience with the Art Center.

“It was my first class at the Des Moines Art Center! I had so much fun and learned a lot,” Wade said.

For the spring 2021 term, all children’s and teen programming will remain virtual, along with the majority of adult programs. A select few classes, including jewelry, ceramics and stained-glass options, will be offered on site with strict guidelines on class sizes, social distancing and mask wearing.

“We are continuing to be as flexible as possible in response to the changing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Director of Studio Arts, Community Access and Inclusion Tracy Duran said. “For example, we are planning to hold our popular children’s camps on site this summer; however, we are prepared to move them online if needed. We have been using the guidance of the CDC and Iowa Department of Public Health, along with surveys of current and former students and families to advise our decision.”

Art class offerings for spring 2021 include single day workshops; multi-week classes for children (3 and up), teens and adults; spring break camps for children and teens; programs for veterans and more.

What to Expect in a Virtual Class

Participants will meet via Zoom from the comfort and safety of their home. Virtual classes and material kits will provide students with tools and techniques that can be utilized for continued, independent learning all term.

Technical Requirements

Participants will need access to the internet and a computer or tablet with a webcam, microphone and speakers.

Material Kits

Material kits are available for purchase through the Des Moines Art Center at the time of registration and will provide all the required materials to complete the projects during the term. Families will be provided a date and time for no-contact pickup at the Art Center before the start of the class. Delivery of material kits is not an option.

To view the 2021 Spring Class Schedule, learn about opportunities to try out a virtual art class or register for classes, visit desmoinesartcenter.org/learn.

Pictured in Header: Holden, age 3, participates in a My Little Artist + Me one day workshop. This class is designed for children ages 2 to 5 to experiment with a variety of activities and art materials in the comfort of their own home as they develop motor and cognitive skills. The spring series runs January through May.

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