To expose young learners, from disadvantaged communities in the Overberg to new creative opportunities and experiences. The long-term vision is to grow and explore the possibilities of the creative world as a possible career or just a healthy, expressive outlet. The focus of the art classes is to be therapeutic yet inspire creative thinking and creating future opportunities.
Our mission is to provide an inspiring, innovative visual art and design programs that will help develop the creative thinking skills and artistic talents of senior learners from disadvantaged areas in Hawston in the Overberg District. With primary learners, the focus falls on recognizing learners’ strengths and weaknesses and guiding them in a safe and creative space. This is achieved by understanding the socio-economic pressures of the community and meeting these needs.
LEARNERS DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS THROUGH ART ACTIVITIES
As visual art teachers, we believe in the benefits of art education
-
Communication skills: Learners can find a way to visually express themselves through art. Feelings, emotions and experiences that might not otherwise be communicated are expressed and dealt with through art.
-
Creative & imaginative thinking: Art stimulates these two important life skills, helping with problem-solving on different levels. When creating art, learners are working through various challenges and need to find alternative ideas and solutions. This encourages them to engage in “out of the box thinking”.
-
Positive mental health: Through creating art and expressing themselves, learners build confidence and self-esteem.
-
Social & emotional skills: Art classes provide a safe space for learners to practice and develop social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and working collaboratively as well as appreciating one another’s efforts.
-
Fine motor skills: Holding a paintbrush so that it will make the desired marks, cutting paper with scissors into definite shapes, drawing with a crayon, or squeezing glue from a bottle in a controlled manner all help develop a child’s fine motor skills and control of materials.