We do not require any previous art experience, only enthusiasm, commitment, a positive attitude, and a desire to explore the arts.
Art Explorers serves adults with developmental and other disabilities who share an interest in exploring art. We primarily serve people who are clients of the Redwood Coast Regional Center. If you are a Regional Center client, please follow the guidelines below to apply to our program. If you are not a Regional Center client, admission is determined on an individual basis, however there would be a daily cost for attendance. We have a very small scholarship fund and we can sometimes provide limited assistance with tuition.
Come and visit us! Spend at least an hour or two in our studio, making art and meeting the other artists and staff.
If interested in joining, discuss your schedule with the Director to determine days that you might attend.
Contact your Regional Center Case Manager and let them know that you would like to attend Art Explorers, and on which days.
Once Regional Center authorization is provided, our staff will have you fill out some paperwork.
There is a three-month trial period during which you and our staff will be able to assess whether our program is a good match. We expect all artists to be polite and respectful to staff and other artists.
To arrange your first visit please call or email:
(707) 961- 6156
artexpl@mcn.org
Volunteers offer support in our studio location with the day-to-day artmaking process. Responsibilities may include: organizing art materials, cleaning paint trays and brushes, cutting art papers, sorting artwork for framing, and photographing artwork.
Necessary Skills:
Interest in various types of art media, willingness to clean, respect for individuals and their creative process.
Time Commitment:
One to three hours per week, during our regular hours of 9 am to 3 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Volunteers are needed to help us prepare for our art shows and First Friday events by organizing and framing artwork.
Necessary Skills:
Ability to assemble standard frames, and to package artwork for sale.
Time Commitment:
Help with at least two shows per year. Framing takes place after 3 pm, or on Mondays.
Art Explorers participates in a variety of events and activities throughout the year, such as Art in the Gardens and the Earth Day Festival. Volunteers for special events in the community help set up and staff our Art Explorers pop-up booth. This may involve carrying tables and chairs, putting up a folding tent, displaying artwork for sale, and interacting with the public.
For in-house art exhibits and fundraisers, volunteers are needed to help with set up and clean up at First Friday art shows, gallery sales, staffing the refreshments area, and giving information to patrons about Art Explorers.
Necessary Skills:
Friendly and interested in promoting the Art Explorers program. Able to lift 25 lb.
Time Commitment:
Three to four hours per event. Help with at least two events per year.
We ask that all volunteers fill out a short application form and have a one-hour orientation training. All volunteers must provide proof of fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice, at no cost, with the form we provide. Fingerprinting can be done at the Fort Bragg Police Department at 250 Cypress Street.
If you are interested in volunteering, please email the Director, Maria Trombetta at: artexpl@mcn.org
Through grants and donations, we try to gain funding for guest artists to come into the studio once a year. This is a great opportunity for a working artist to lead a workshop and introduce a new medium to the studio. We see these workshops as a way for our artists to develop new skills and to connect with the broader arts community, as well as paying working artists a living wage for their teaching time. Past workshops offered in printmaking, ceramics, gilding, collage, and suminagashi. Some workshop mediums we would love to explore are filmmaking, animation, other movement- based art forms; costume design, mask-making; sculpture; bookmaking; and creative writing.
Provide your bio; a current CV with three references; a link to your website -or- three photos of relevant artwork; and respond to the following workshop related questions in 1-2 pages:
Why are you interested in becoming a Guest Artist?
What kind of experience do you have facilitating a project in a creative environment with students?
Do you have any previous experience working with people with developmental disabilities?
Give us a detailed description of the project you are proposing~
What will you and studio artists create?
What are your expected outcomes?
What supplies will you need? What will they cost?
What equipment or tools, if any, will you need? How long will the project take?
What problems do you anticipate? What strategies will you use to deal with them?
What do you hope to gain by teaching a project-based workshop at Art Explorers?
Email to the Director, Maria Trombetta at: artexpl@mcn.org
1. In The Studio
Volunteers offer support in our studio location with the day-to-day artmaking process. Responsibilities may include: organizing art materials, cleaning paint trays and brushes, cutting art papers, sorting artwork for framing, and photographing artwork.
Necessary Skills:
Interest in various types of art media, willingness to clean, respect for individuals and their creative process.
Time Commitment:
One to three hours per week, during our regular hours of 9 a.m to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
2. Exhibition Preparation
Volunteers are needed to help us prepare for our art shows and First Friday events by organizing and framing artwork.
Necessary Skills:
Ability to assemble standard frames, package artwork for sale.
Time Commitment:
Help with at least two shows per year. Framing takes place after 3 p.m., or on Mondays.
3. Special Events
Art Explorers participates in a variety of events and activities throughout the year, such as Art in the Gardens and the Earth Day Festival. Volunteers for special events in the community help set up and staff our Art Explorers pop-up booth. This may involve carrying tables and chairs, putting up a folding tent, displaying artwork for sale, and interacting with the public.
For in-house art exhibits and fundraisers, volunteers are needed to help with set up and clean up at First Friday art shows, gallery sales, staffing the refreshments area, and giving information to patrons about Art Explorers.
Necessary Skills:
Friendly and interested in promoting the Art Explorers program. Able to lift 25 lb.
Time Commitment:
Three to four hours per event. Help with at least two events per year.
We ask that all volunteers fill out a short application form and have a one-hour orientation training. All volunteers must provide proof of fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice, at no cost, with the form we provide. Fingerprinting can be done at the Fort Bragg Police Department at 250 Cypress Street.
If you are interested in volunteering, please email the Director, Maria Trombetta at: artexpl@mcn.org
Through grants and donations, we try to gain funding for guest artists to come into the studio once a year. This is a great opportunity for a working artist to lead a workshop and introduce a new medium to the studio. We see these workshops as a way for our artists to develop new skills and to connect with the broader arts community, as well as paying working artists a living wage for their teaching time. Past workshops have been in printmaking, ceramics, guilding, and suminagashi. We would love to explore filmmaking, animation, costume design, mask-making and sculpture in the future.
To apply:
Provide your bio; a current CV with three references; a link to your website -or- three photos of relevant artwork; and respond to the following workshop related questions in 1-2 pages:
Why are you interested in becoming a Guest Artist?
What kind of experience do you have facilitating a project in a creative environment with students?
Do you have any previous experience working with people with developmental disabilities?
Give us a detailed description of the project you are proposing~
What will you and studio artists create?
What are your expected outcomes?
What supplies will you need? What will they cost?
What equipment or tools, if any, will you need? How long will the project take?
What problems do you anticipate? What strategies will you use to deal with them?
What do you hope to gain by teaching a project-based workshop at Art Explorers?
Email the Director, Maria Trombetta at: artexpl@mcn.org
