(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A youth program based in Geneva is giving students and teachers a much-needed outlet for artistic expression.
"Children's Art Classes is a curriculum-based, after school art education program," Kurt Barbel said. "We teach kids, ages 3 and up, different art techniques using different art mediums."
Barbel is owner of the Geneva-based program, which he said also puts a focus on teaching students about the artists behind the artwork.
"It gives the teachers, who are artists themselves, freedom to share their knowledge and expand the knowledge for these kids. Not only do they get maybe once a week in their schools, they get it once a week with us."
Barbel said the benefits for students taking part in Children's Art Classes go far beyond the paint brush and sculpting clay.
"Kids experience all kinds of anxieties coming out of COVID," he said. "Art gives them a therapeutic outlet to express themselves and be creative. It allows them to not have to color in the lines all the time. Sometimes, I think as kids, with all that's going on in the world, they need that freedom and that opportunity for self expression."
In local schools and online at childrensartclasses.com.
"It's just a great opportunity. Even if kids don't have excellent art skills, it's a great program to get them involved in art."
Combining arts, smarts and starts of new friendships — Made in Chicago.
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