Subscribe!
Free Art Classes for Elementary Students
All Rhode Island Elementary Students Invited to Register for Free Art Adventure Classes – Registration is limited and opens Jan 5; The Empowerment Factory was selected by RIDE to offer Free, Live Online classes.
The Empowerment Factory (TEF) in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is offering free elementary youth art classes, from January through May. Each participating child will receive a creativity kit to accompany online, live classes taught by The Empowerment Factory team.
Starting January 5th, all Rhode Island elementary students are eligible to register for up to 2 sessions (series of classes, see below for dates and details). Space is limited. Families are encouraged to visit www.empowermentfactory.org/free-art-adventures and sign up for an alert to be notified via email when registration opens.
Please note each student is eligible to register for 2 sessions only. As a Rhode Island nonprofit, we encourage families to register ONLY for classes they can commit to attending, since RIDE’s funding structure is tied to actual attendance. These fun, free classes combine art, science, and social emotional learning.
Nature Drawing
Have fun using your creativity, discover new talents, and learn new skills. While we draw, we will explore facts about animals, science, and the world. This spring we will focus on drawing endangered species to raise awareness about our planet’s needs. The classes will take place once a week for seven weeks, with several time slots. Each Nature Drawing session meets once a week live and online and lasts seven weeks. Please be sure to select a day and session that your student will be able to consistently attend each week throughout the session.
Mondays 4-5 p.m.
● Session begins 01/25/21 and ends 03/8/21
OR
● Session begins 03/29/21 and ends 05/10/21
Tuesdays 4-5 p.m.
● Session begins 01/19/21 and ends 03/2/21
OR
● Session begins 03/30/21 and ends 05/11/21
Wednesdays 5-6 p.m.
● Session begins 02/03/21 and ends 03/17/21
OR
● Session begins 03/31/21 and ends 05/12/21
Family Friday Art Night Club
Engage the whole family in a fun art activity. Each session meets live online on two Fridays per month. Families are limited to the 2 total sessions as stated above.
● Origami Peace Cranes & Animals
Session meets Jan. 15th & Jan. 29th, 6:15pm- 7:30pm
We will guide you through the step-by-step of folding paper to create “Peace Cranes” and other origami animals.
● Jewelry Making
Session meets Feb. 12th & Feb. 26th, 6:15pm- 7:30pm
Explore various ways of making jewelry using basic hand tools, paper, clay, and metal, while
also learning some facts about Rhode Island’s rich jewelry-making history.
● Mandala Mosaic
Session meets March 12th & March 26th, 6:15pm- 7:30pm
Learn the relaxing process of making mandalas and how to decorate them with beads using
mosaic techniques. We will explore the history of mandalas as an art form.
● Painting
Session meets April 9th & April 23rd, 6:15pm- 7:30pm
This workshop will show techniques using acrylic paints, so you can create your own paintings. Express yourself authentically and freely!
Art in the Park
Later in the Spring and Summer we will offer our “Art in the Park” classes. Dates will be posted soon. Adapting to serve students throughout the COVID Pandemic Pawtucket-based since 2014, The Empowerment Factory quickly adapted its popular and unique afterschool programs to provide virtual and Covid-safe creativity programs that build self-esteem and resiliency through social-emotional learning curricula. After a challenging spring, families enthusiastically welcomed TEF’s Art in the Park program, which was adapted to keep students safe while engaging them socially.
“We told jokes, read books, and created art, but most importantly we made happy memories of joy and laughter, as well as new friends,” said artist and TEF Founder-Director Gail Ahlers. The Coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need for enriching programming that focuses on students’
well-being. The Empowerment Factory is again readying for unprecedented demand and wishes to serve even more at-risk students. “Teaching at-risk children, the skills they need to lead happier, healthier, more empowered lives are especially appreciated by children and their parents during these challenging times,” Ahlers said. “We’d like to thank our 12 Days of Wishmas donors who funded the development and delivery of virtual (and COVID-compliant in-person) programs for more at-risk children in Rhode Island.”
About Us
The Empowerment Factory (TEF) is dedicated to giving children the skills they need to lead happier, healthier, more empowered lives. We focus on three areas of development: creativity, self-esteem, and civic pride. Our Creative Squad programs blend social emotional learning (SEL), art, literacy, and environmental education. TEF provides children with the skills to be successful in school and in life. TEF wants every child to feel that they matter and can make a difference in the world. Our vision is for all children to have the confidence to effectively express themselves and be actively and positively engaged in our communities.
Founded by Gail Ahlers, as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2014, TEF has designed and delivered enrichment programs that have proven to be transformational for RI youth. Partnering with schools and youth organizations, TEF has conducted 70+ afterschool and summer learning programs, positively impacted more than 4,200 urban youth, 90 percent from underserved communities. TEF serves low-income, under-resourced communities, concentrating specifically on the Title 1 schools in Rhode Island’s urban core cities.
When our children succeed, it creates a powerful ripple effect that’s felt in families, schools, and communities.
The Empowerment Factory is at 999 Main Street, #707, Pawtucket, RI 02860 • PH: 401-365-1010
Twitter @Empowering_RI
Instagram @TheEmpowermentFactory
Facebook @TheEmpowermentFactory
YouTube @TheEmpowermentFactory