Community Arts Academy Offers Free Demo Classes
Parents who would like their children to sample offerings in Buffalo State’s Community Arts Academy (CAA) have the chance on January 23 and 30 during “Demo Day.” On those two Saturday mornings, infants through teens can participate in free half-hour music and visual arts classes.
On January 23, CAA is hosting Early Childhood Music and Movement, which guides young children and their caregivers through research-based music and movement activities. The course is divided into three sections by age: birth to 18 months at 9:30 a.m.; toddlers, ages 18-36 months, at 10:30 a.m.; and 3- and 4-year-olds at 11:30 a.m. All classes take place in Rockwell Hall 107.
Meanwhile, Art Around the World introduces kindergartners through third-graders to art from Japan, China, Ancient Greece, Europe, India, and Africa and teaches them a range of drawing and painting skills. The sample class will be held at 9:00 a.m. in Upton Hall 404. It will be followed by Making Modern Art, in which fourth through eighth-graders create original artwork based on masters from the Cubist, Pop Art, and Abstract art movements, at 10:00 a.m. in the same room. The sample class for Digital Media Design, which teaches ninth for 12th-graders the basics of digital imagery, animation, 3D modeling, and video game level design, will take place at 10:30 a.m. in Upton Hall 211.
On January 30, eighth through 12th-graders can sample Introduction to Drawing: Charcoal Workshop and Portraiture at 9:00 a.m. in Upton Hall 301.
Free parking for participants is available in Lots I-35 or I-37. Download Buffalo State campus map.
Founded in 2014, the CAA classes and workshops provide young community members with engaging hands-on and research-based classes taught by Buffalo State faculty and advanced student interns.
“Our mission is to nurture student creativity, critical thinking, and applied skills through joyful cultural experiences in the arts and humanities,” said Anthony Chase, assistant dean for the School of Arts and Humanities, of which the CAA is a part.
CAA’s regular classes begin January 30 and run through April 16 except for Introduction to Drawing, which begins February 6 and runs through April 23. The CAA also includes two other classes in its lineup: the Buffalo Urban Music Project for fourth through eighth graders on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and Jazz Workshop for sixth through 12th graders on Sundays at 1:00 p.m.
The classes for young children last 45 minutes; the others are either 90 minutes or two hours in length and cost between $20 and $130 for the 10 weeks, including supplies.
Advanced registration for Demo Days is required by calling (716) 878-6326 or visiting the Community Arts Academy website where parents also can enroll their children in the 10-week courses.