CAC Receives Grant for New After School Art Program

A group of Brooklyn Park Middle School students have a new home after school at the Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC) thanks to a $35,000 grant from the Arundel County Development Services (ACDS).

The new “Art Club,” which runs from September 2019 - May 2020, aims to bring a diverse, hands-on creative learning experience in dance, ceramics, visual arts, theater and technology. This year’s theme of Community and Empathy will be carried through the curriculum. Students will have the opportunity to share their work in both a Winter and Spring showcase.

“The program is a few years in the making and we cannot be more excited to finally see it to fruition,” said Nicole Caracia, Artistic Director at the CAC. “One of our goals at CAC is to create opportunities for kids to explore their own creativity, especially those who otherwise might not have the opportunity. The Art Club does exactly that.”

As stipulated by the grant, the majority of participants qualify for income-based scholarships. Eligible students were selected from applications via a lottery. There is currently a waitlist. The CAC hopes to expand this program in 2020.

“Our waitlist is growing each day, which solidifies the need for this program in our area. We will continue to look for more funding opportunities for Art Club this year to serve as many kids as possible in the future,” said Tyler Farinholt, Education Coordinator at the CAC.

While this is the first after school program at the center, the CAC offers three other onsite programs at area elementary schools.