CREATIVITY IN ACTION

ART IN THE MAKING

BRINGING ARTISTS INTO THE SCHOOLS.

Put a working artist in a classroom and something different happens.

Through Art in the Making, RiverArtsFest brings professional artists into Shelby County and municipal schools for hands-on master classes and workshops at no cost to students or schools.

Students of different ages and abilities learn directly from working artists, experiencing not only the finished work, but the ideas, skills and creative process behind it.

Each year, more than 1,600 students of all ages and abilities experience master classes and workshops by noted artists such as Jimpsie Ayres, Chuck Johnson, Terry Lynn, Maysey Craddock and Katey Henriksen, at no cost to schools or students.

Peggy Seessel Professional Development Series

INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE WHO TEACH ART.

Great arts education starts with great arts educators.

Created in honor of late RiverArtsFest board member and arts education advocate Peggy Seessel, the series provides art educators and teaching artists with free creative workshops led by Memphis-area artists throughout the year.

A series of workshops are held annually throughout the calendar year, and in partnership with arts advocate groups such as the Art Center and Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

By investing in teachers, the impact reaches far beyond a single workshop—and into classrooms throughout Shelby County.

FREE FESTIVAL ACCESS

BRINGING STUDENTS TO THE ART.

Arts education doesn’t only happen in the classroom.

RiverArtsFest distributes thousands of free festival tickets through schools and community partners, giving students the opportunity to experience original art, meet working artists and see the creative process firsthand.

For some, it may be their first opportunity to experience a professional fine arts festival—and discover just how many ways there are to create.

SUPPORTING WORKING ARTISTS

CREATING OPPORTUNITY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EXPERIENCE.

Community Arts & Education gives students, teachers and communities greater access to art while creating paid opportunities for working artists to share their skills and creative practice.

Through demonstrations, workshops, master classes and residencies, artists are compensated for bringing what they do best into classrooms, community spaces and RiverArtsFest experiences.