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Fall for Fine Arts

December 1, 2020
By Ida ("Aida") Bartoletti, Librarian II, Los Angeles (Calif.) Public Library

For over six years our branch has offered successful hand-on arts/crafts/DIY programs for families every Thursday at 4 p.m. After the pandemic, I continued these type of programs in innovative ways online.

Fall for Fine Arts was a weekly library program series offered every Thursday in October 2020 via Zoom to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month and LAPL Fall Traditions. The program promoted library resources and exposed kids to the Masters and their art techniques. Submitted art works from the Zoom art class also turn this into a mini art exhibit. 

This program connected the library to our community, nurtured and explored creative expression, and boosted patron self-esteem. During these challenging times, art inspires, nurtures, brings people together, and art-making puts us in a moment of still peace. 

Audience
Children / Family
Popular Topics
Social-distancing programs
Virtual
Humanities
Budget
Free
$1-50
Advance Planning

I got the idea in August and started planning and executing in September. I selected and conceptualized art projects based on famous artists for each week.

  1. Van Gogh & Sunflower Drawing/Paintings
  2. Seurat & Pointillism Paintings
  3. Degas & Kiragami Ballerina Paper-Doll Chains
  4. Matisse & Shapes Collage Art
  5. Picasso & “Scary” Faces Art (for Halloween week)

My process followed this plan:

  • Created fliers for online marketing 
  • Researched the artists and compiled resources, including weekly online posters of related library resource lists
  • Created art example/s for that week’s project 
  • Thoughtfully prepared presentations rich with images, mini biographies, etc.
  • Shared a related picture book or book talks 
  • Formed collaborations and invited others to join me to teach a session
  • Scheduled the class times and continously promoted
  • Created patron email lists as interest in program grew
  • Posted art created by participants for a mini art exhibition on our Instagram after each session
  • Gathered, edited and published mini art exhibitions on our Instagram of art created (if submitted) by our participants for each week’s art session (see:)
Marketing

One to two weeks prior to the commencement of the program on October 1, the program was marketed on the main LAPL Events Page, several branches’ Instagram/story feed and Facebook Pages, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and a variety of local and national publications. 

We sent weekly email reminders with the Zoom link and posted for the three days leading to Thursday’s event on Instagram with weekly fliers, book lists, and mini art exhibits of works patrons created the week before.

Budget Details

Free or low cost.

All art supplies were items that I have readily available at home and that most people have or could easily get: pencils, scissors, glue, paper (regular and construction, colored and white, art paper/canvas), crayons or paints, tissue paper, Q-tips or art brushes.

Other supplies needed are devices and Internet connectivity.

Day-of-event Activity

Our team met up 30 minutes before class to practice share screens, go over agenda, check lighting and camera angles, check sound, etc.

Most prep (creating Powerpoints and art examples, emailing weekly reminders, daily Instagram fliers) happened weeks and days before. 

Program Execution

We worked as a team. The teacher for that day could focus on the presentation and not worry about the behind-the-scenes technical issues, which the team handled.

Each class started by an introduction to the program series, an about the artist presentation, a related book or booklist share, and mainly a creative space of making and creating together after the teacher/librarian showed example/s and demonstrated the steps.

The kids were muted when the teacher/librarian was reading or presenting. Families unmuted themselves if they had questions. There was a lot of interaction on the screen, as step by step we ask the kids to show us their progress or put a thumbs up if they were done with that step.

Families helped each other out and in every zoom box, there were two to five kids working together. We asked for cameras to be on. Although intended for kids, all ages attended. Besides kids, parents and tweens also enjoyed the classes and also participated with their own art projects. We had a regular attendance of about 20 to 25 participants every week. Parents expressed interest and gratitude.

Advice

Besides Zoom knowledge, have high speed internet and good light, camera and sound. Research and practice your topic and presentation thoroughly but don’t be sad that you spend hours each week planning and then it all ends so suddenly.

Realize that the impact was made: families learned, they expressed, they connected, they enjoyed, their confidence and self-esteem was increased, they were proud of their work being exhibited, parents got to be creative and get back in touch with the arts, too.

Submitted by harata on Tue, 2020-12-01 09:05

Short Title
Fall for Fine Arts
By Ida ("Aida") Bartoletti, Librarian II, Los Angeles (Calif.) Public Library

For over six years our branch has offered successful hand-on arts/crafts/DIY programs for families every Thursday at 4 p.m. After the pandemic, I continued these type of programs in innovative ways online.

Fall for Fine Arts was a weekly library program series offered every Thursday in October 2020 via Zoom to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month and LAPL Fall Traditions. The program promoted library resources and exposed kids to the Masters and their art techniques. Submitted art works from the Zoom art class also turn this into a mini art exhibit. 

This program connected the library to our community, nurtured and explored creative expression, and boosted patron self-esteem. During these challenging times, art inspires, nurtures, brings people together, and art-making puts us in a moment of still peace. 

Related Programs
Quaranzine (A Quarantine Zine)
Virtual Art Show
Junior Virtual Art Show
Crafternoon: Shaving Cream & Paint Tote Bag
Tags
art
humanities
artists
art history
social distance
virtual program
Program Date
Thu, 2020-10-01
Slideshow Images
  • Van Gogh Library Resource List
  • Seurat Library Resource List
  • Degas Library Resource List
  • Matisse Library Resource List
  • Picasso Library Resource List
  • Van Gogh Flier
  • Seurat Flier
  • Degas Flier
  • Matisse Flier
  • Picasso Flier
Summary

Fall for Fine Arts promoted library resources and exposed kids to the Masters and their art techniques.

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