The Evanston Art Center (EAC) has a long history that stretches back nearly a century. It was originally founded in 1929 by local resident Alice Riley, who was looking for a way to honor the life of a beloved local art teacher, Julia Ferguson. Over the next several decades, EAC continued to expand and found itself in need of a larger facility in 2015. Today, more than 30,000 people attend a class or event at EAC every year. Their programming continues to expand, and they currently offer 400 classes. Since its inception nearly 100 years ago, the EAC’s mission hasn’t changed. The organization continues to foster the community’s appreciation of the creative arts through affordable classes, exhibitions, and other local events.
There is a tremendous variety of classes available at EAC, so any creative person can find something that they enjoy. EAC offers plenty of classes that cater to beginners, like the Beginning Wheel Throwing course. This program teaches basic pottery skills and is ideal for the beginner ceramicist. There are also a great deal of programs that cater to more advanced artists who are looking to further advance their skills. For instance, there are intermediate and advanced classes in watercolor, ceramic handbuilding, and poetry.
EAC also provides a robust curriculum for children and teens, offering summer camps and classes for children and teens. Younger students ages 6-8 will love the Art Around the World program, which teaches global art techniques using acrylic, watercolor, and recycled materials. There is also a Darkroom to Digital Photography class for students aged 11-13. Here, teens will explore analog and digital photography methods as they learn to shoot with film and digitally edit their images. They’ll leave with a small portfolio of projects to show off to friends and family.
The classes at EAC frequently receive high praise from those who attend. Students appreciate that classes are attended by folks of all experience levels so they can learn from their instructor as well as their fellow classmates. Beginners, in particular, often describe their instructors as being patient, encouraging, and helpful. Former students also enjoy the small class sizes at EAC, stating that this allowed the teachers to be more attentive and provide lots of helpful feedback to each participant.
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